>> CAN A LAME DUCK CONGRESS GET MUCH DONE?

WHAT WILL REPUBLICANS DO WITH THEIR HOUSE POWER?

AND IS THERE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KYRIE IRVING AND AMAZON?

STAY TUNED IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M NINA MOORE OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY, WITH A PANEL OF PROFESSORS TO DISCUSS THE NEWS.

A QUICK PROGRAMMING NOTE BEFORE WE GET STARTED.

WE'RE PRE-TAPING THE SHOW; SO, IF WE MISS A BIG STORY, THAT'S WHY.

JOINING ME AROUND THE TABLE ARE RICK FENNER OF UTICA UNIVERSITY ANIRBAN ACHARYA OF LEMOYNE COLLEGE; SARAH PRALLE OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY AND TARA ROSS OF ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

IN JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS ALL EYES WILL BE ON THE NEW CONGRESS.

BUT NOT SO FAST.

THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF WORK STILL LEFT FOR THE CURRENT CONGRESS ... JUST TO NAME A FEW: FUNDING THE GOVERNMENT, SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, THE ELECTORAL COUNT ACT, THE DEBT LIMIT, AID TO UKRAINE AND THE LIST GOES ON.

THE MARRIAGE EQUALITY BILL HAS ALREADY MADE HEADWAY.

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT THIS LAME DUCK CONGRESS WILL GET TO THE OTHER LEGISLATION BEFORE ADJOURNMENT ABOUT A MONTH FROM NOW?

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES?

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?

RICK?

>> THE FIRST THING WE HAVE TO DO IS WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO FUND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AFTER DECEMBER 16.

IN SEPTEMBER, A STOP GAP BILL WAS PASSED AND THAT FUNDED US THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER.

IF WE DON'T HAVE AN AGREEMENT AFTER THAT DATE, THEN THAT REQUIRES BASICALLY A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

SO THAT HAS TO BE DEALT WITH.

THE SECOND ISSUE THAT I THINK IS CRUCIAL THAT DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO WANT TO DEAL WITH BEFORE NEXT YEAR IS THE DEBT CEILING.

WE RUN BUDGET DEFICITS AND WE FINANCE THAT THROUGH BORROWING.

CONGRESS HAS A DEBT CEILING OF ABOUT $$31 TRILLION.

IT'S ESTIMATED THAT WE ARE GOING TO HIT THAT COME SOMETIME IN 2023.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE ALREADY SAID THAT THEY EXPECT TO HOLD THAT DEBT CEILING HOSTAGE TO DEEP SPENDING CUTS FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

AND THAT'S DESPITE THE FACT THAT UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION NOT ONLY DID THE REPUBLICANS PASS AN INCREASE IN THE DEBT CEILING, BUT THEN THEY ALSO ADDED $7 TRILLION TO THE DEBT, MOSTLY THROUGH THE TAX CUTS.

SO I THINK IT'S A LITTLE DISINGENUOUS OF THEM TO SAY THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PASS AN INCREASE IN THE DEBT CEILING BECAUSE OF THE DEMOCRATS OVERSPENDING.

>> BUT MIGHT THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE LEVERAGE WHEN IT COMES TO THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN THREAT BECAUSE, IF I UNDERSTAND THIS CORRECTLY, RICK, AND LET ME KNOW IF I DON'T, RAISING THE DEBT LIMIT CAN WAIT UNTIL THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2023, RIGHT?

SO THE TIME PRESSURES ARE NOT AS GREAT.

AM I RIGHT ABOUT THAT?

>> THE TIME PRESSURE IS NOT AS GREAT BUT THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IN TERMS OF THE REPUBLICANS CONTROLLING THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS, AND THAT WOULD-- McCARTHY HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR.

HE SAID HE IS WILLING TO HOLD THE DEBT CRISIS HOSTAGE TO BIG SPENDING CUTS.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATS WOULD BE WISE TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE MORE QUICKLY.

>> ALSO I WOULD SAY THAT IN TERMS OF THE SPENDING BILL FOR DECEMBER, IF IT WERE TO END IN A PARTIAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, HISTORY SHOWS US THAT THE REPUBLICANS END UP GETTING BLAMED FOR THAT.

SO IF THE IN THE 2019 SHUTDOWN UNDER TRUMP, HE WAS HOLDING IT HOSTAGE FOR THE WALL, AND THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MOSTLY BLAMED THE REPUBLICANS AND PRESIDENT TRUMP.

DURING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION THERE WAS ANOTHER SHUTDOWN, PEOPLE BLAMED CONGRESS AND NOT THE PRESIDENT.

IT IS NOT CLEAR THAT THIS WILL BE POLITICALLY A WISE MOVE ON THE PART OF REPUBLICANS EITHER.

>> I AGREE.

THIS FISCAL TRYING TO CREATE A BRINKSMANSHIP OF THE FISCAL CLIFF WOULD NOT BE A GOOD STRATEGY FOR REPUBLICANS.

I ALSO WANT TO ADD THOUGH THAT THIS IS KIND OF-- AT THIS TIME, IF WE ACTUALLY CONCENTRATE ON REFORMING THE ELECTORAL COUNT ACT.

EVERY TIME I'VE TRIED TO STUDY IT, ALL THE SCHOLARS WHO ACTUALLY STUDY IT, IT'S TOO COMPLICATED.

MANY PEOPLE DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT.

AND IT'S QUITED UNNERVING TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A CONSTITUTIONAL ROUTE TO THROUGH AWAY POPULAR VOTES AND INSTALL A PRESIDENT THAT HAS NOT WON THE POPULAR MANDATE.

SO I THINK DEMOCRATS WOULD DO A GOOD JOB IN ORDER TO START THE PROCESS OF CHANGING THE ELECTORAL COUNT ACT AND THEY MIGHT ACTUALLY GET A LOT OF SUPPORT BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT A WINNING STRATEGY FOR MANY REPUBLICANS TO DENY THE ELECTION.

APART FROM THE IDEA THAT THE SENATORS PASSED A SAME SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BILL TO BE QUALIFIED INTO FEDERAL LAW WHICH I THINK IS COMING UP.

>> SO PUSH FOR THE THINGS THAT DO SEEM DOABLE AND THE ELECTORAL COUNT ACT, AS YOU SAID, WITH THIS ENVIRONMENT, THAT IS A MUCH EASIER SELL THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BEFORE.

WHAT ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE ON THE TABLE; FOR EXAMPLE, MORE FUNDING FOR COVID AND WE HAVE ALSO SEEN SOME OF THE NEWLY ELECTED REPUBLICANS PUSH BACK AGAINST MORE AID FOR UKRAINE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, TARA?

>> I DON'T THINK MORE FUNDING FOR COVID.

I THINK IN MOST PEOPLE'S MINDS, CERTAINLY IN MOST REPUBLICANS MINDS, COVID IS OVER.

YES, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WITH LONG-TERM COVID, BUT YOU KNOW, THEY WEREN'T BIG SUPPORTERS OF FUNDING FOR COVID ANYWAY AND, BASED ON THE NUMBERS, NUMBERS ARE GOING DOWN IN TERMS OF HOSPITALIZATIONS, OTHER THAN A SPOT HERE, SPOT THERE, SO I DON'T SEE ANYMORE FUNDING FOR COVID.

SIMILARLY, I'M REALLY NOT SURE IF THERE IS GOING TO BE MORE FUNDING FOR UKRAINE.

IN LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS OF THE FUNDING, THE UNITED STATES HAS PLEDGED AND SOME OF THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN, $27.4 BILLION IN TERMS OF MUNITIONS, ET CETERA, FOR UKRAINE.

THE NEXT COUNTRY IS THE UNITED KINGDOM WITH $4 DL.

SO-- WITH $4 BILLION.

I THINK THE REPUBLICANS WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE AN ARGUMENT.

NOBODY CAN SAY WE ARE NOT SUPPORTING UKRAINE OR NEVER WILL SUPPORT UKRAINE AGAIN BUT AS TO WHAT WE HAVE GIVEN SO FAR, PERHAPS IT'S TIME TO PUT PRESSURE ON OUR NATO ALLIES TO TO BE MORE SUPPORTIVE.

AND SO I'M NOT SURE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET MUCH MORE FUNDING FOR UKRAINE.

>> YEAH, OKAY.

SO LET'S SWITCH A LITTLE BIT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE THAT IS IMPORTANT.

THE JANUARY 6 HEARINGS ARE OVER AND ACCORDING TO THE CHAIRPERSON, THAT REPORT IS GOING TO COME OUT SOON.

HOW MUCH ATTENTION SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON EITHER PUSHING THAT REPORT OUT, BUT ALSO MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE REPORT?

>> I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY JUMP IN AND SAY THAT WOULD BE A WRONG STRATEGY FOR DEMOCRATS.

WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE HEARINGS WEEK AFTER WEEK AFTER WEEK.

HOURS AND HOURS OF HEARINGS, TELECAST ON TV.

SO YES, THE REPORT MIGHT COME OUT AND I DON'T THINK DEMOCRATS SHOULD SPEND A LOT OF TIME HIGHLIGHTING IT ANYMORE.

AND SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON THE STUFF THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT AND ACCENTUATING.

>> A PLAN TO CONCENTRATE ON OTHER THINGS.

WELL,PLANS, PLANS AND MORE PLANS WHAT WE'VE SEEN COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AISLE.

BACK IN THE SPRING, SENATOR RICK SCOTT ANNOUNCED HIS 12-POINT RESCUE AMERICAN PLAN.

IN THE FALL, HOUSE LEADER KEVIN MCCARTHY ROLLED OUT A COMMITMENT TO AMERICA PLAN AND AFTER THE MIDTERMS MITCH MCCONNELL GAVE A SPEECH ABOUT: HOUSING INFLATION, ENERGY COSTS, STUDENT LOANS, AND THE NEED TO ACT AS A CHECK AND BALANCE ON DEMOCRATS.

MCCONNEL HE SAID THAT WHEN VOTERS GET A CLEAR LOOK AT THE CONSERVATIVE VISION, THEY LIKE WHAT THEY SEE.

WHAT IS THE CONSERVATIVE VISION FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS?

AND IS IT YOUR SENSE THAT VOTERS LIKE IT?

>> SO THIS IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

I SEE THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF CONSERVATIVE VISIONS.

I JUST WANT TO PUT IT IN QUICKLY PUT IT IN COMPARATIVE QUALITY CONTEXT.

AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE MANIFEST COMPANY PROJECT THAT RATES PARTIES ON WHERE THEY FALL ON THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM FROM LEFT TO RIGHT BY LOOKING AT THEIR POLITICAL PLATFORMS AND THEIR MANIFEST MANIFESTOS.

THE RICK SCOTT PLAN AND THE FACT THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS MOVED VERY, VERY CLOSE TO, FOR EXAMPLE, NEW NAZI OUTFITS IN GERMANY LIKE THE A.F.D.

WHEN YOU COMPARE THE MANIFESTOS TO EACH OTHER, THEY'RE SIMILAR.

A MAGA-FIED.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO RESCUE FROM WHAT.

AND IT CLEARLY POINTS OUT THAT IT IS FROM KNOWLEDGE, FROM WOKENESS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

SO I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY A PLAN.

BUT WHEN I LOOKED AT THE, YOU KNOW, THE REPUBLICAN PLAN FOR THAT KEVIN McCARTHY PUT OUT, THERE ARE POINTS THAT CAN BE DEBATED.

THERE ARE REPUBLICAN TALKING POINTS OF CUTTING TAXES, CREATING MORE SELF RELIANCE FROM THE UNITED STATES.

SO I THINK THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT REPUBLICAN PLANS.

ONE IS EXTREMELY FAR RIGHT AND COMPLETELY LEFT FIELD.

AND THE OTHER IS MORE OR LESS WITHIN THE DOMAIN OF WHAT REMAINS OF REPUBLICAN POLITICS IS.

I DO THINK VOTERS WOULD BE ATTRACTED TO THE LATTER RATHER THAN THE FORMER.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT.

CERTAINLY THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP HAS SORT OF THE RICK SCOTT PLAN BUT IT'S YOUR SENSE THAT THE REPUBLICAN BASE OR ARE WE TALKING ABOUT VOTERS AT LARGE, WHO WILL ALSO REJECT RICK SCOTT'S PLAN?

>> PARTIALLY AND IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, THEY HAVE SHOWN THAT MANY REPUBLICANS ARE NOT VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THIS KIND OF A CULTURE WAR ANTI-KNOWLEDGE, ANTISCIENCE KIND OF AN IDEA, BUILD THE WALL AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

>> I AGREE.

I THINK THE SCOTT PLAN IS A NON-STARTER.

IT'S TO PLAY TO THE BASE.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT, FOR INSTANCE, McCARTHY'S PLAN, YOU KNOW, THEY ATTACK THE DEMOCRATS FOR HIGH INFLATION, AND THEN WHAT DO THEY DO?

THEY PROPOSE BIG TAX CUTS.

WE SAW HOW THAT WORKED IN ENGLAND.

NOT SO WELL AND NOW ENGLAND IS BASICALLY TURNED 108° AND ARE A-- 180 AGREE AND ANNOUNCING THAT IN ORDER TO BEAT DOWN INFLATION, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO INCREASE TAXES.

IN ADDITION, YOU KNOW, THIS ISOLATIONISM IN TERMS OF BRINGING MANUFACTURING BACK TO THE UNITED STATES, WELL THEY'RE DOING IT AT A TIME THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE ALSO AGAINST IMMIGRATION AND WE HAVE A 3.7% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

THERE ARE TWO JOBS BEING POSTED FOR EVERY UNEMPLOYED PERSON.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO FILL THOSE JOBS?

WHAT ARE WE NOT GOING TO DO IF WE ARE GOING TO BRING BACK ALL THAT MANUFACTURING?

SEEMS REALLY GOOD AND IT DOES PLAY TO WHAT I THINK MANY AMERICANS THINK IS WRONG, BUT WHEN YOU DIG A LITTLE DEEPER, YOU SEE THAT THERE ISN'T A LOT OF SUBSTANCE BEHIND SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

>> AND I WAS GOING TO SAY IT'S NOTABLE THAT THEY LIKE HAVE PLANS, FRANKLY, BECAUSE I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAS BEEN SORT OF CRAZY IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND REALLY SINCE THE TRAIX IS LIKE-- THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS THAT THE REPUBLICANS DON'T HAVE A POLICY PLATFORM TO RUN ON.

IT'S ALL ABOUT STOKING UP FEARS AND ANGER AND RESENTMENTS AND SO THERE IS AT LEAST SOME RECOGNITION ON THE PART OF SOME OF THE LEADERS, I GUESS, THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY ACTUALLY NEED TO STAND FOR SOMETHING.

BUT I SHARE THE SENTIMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN VOICED ALREADY THAT LIKE IT'S NOT NECESSARILY CLEAR HOW WELL THIS IS GOING TO REALLY MEET THE NEEDS OF THE VOTERS OR THE CONCERNS OF THE VOTERS.

IT'S A LOT OF RED MEAT CULTURE WAR TYPE OF ISSUES.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT IS WHAT IS ON MOST PEOPLE'S MIND, RIGHT?

THAT PEOPLE AREN'T THINKING DAY TO DAY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES, AND WHAT BOOKS ARE IN THEM, RIGHT?

THAT THEY'RE MUCH MORE INTERESTED IN SOME MORE SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES.

>> SO SARAH, IN THAT MIX OF THINGS THAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT, DO YOU SEE MITCH McCONNELL AS THE MORE LIKELY PERSON TO SORT OF LEAD TO REAL ISSUES THAT MATTER TO VOTERS COMPARED TO THE OTHERS?

>> WELL, HE CERTAINLY PUT THE KYBOSH ON RICK SCWOT'S PLAN, HEIGHT AND IT'S INDICATIVE OF THE FACT THAT IT IS GOING TO BE AN UNGOVERNABLE PARTY.

THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIKE RICK SCOTT COMING OUT WITH THESE KIND OF CRAZY EXTREME PLANS, AND THEN YOU KNOW, THERE IS GOING TO BE ATTEMPTS TO REIN IN THAT MAGA SIDE OF THE PARTY.

AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY.

MITCH McCONNELL, I THINK HE WANTS POWER AND HE WANTS JUDGES AND TAX CUTS.

>> JUDGES AND TAX CUTS.

TARA WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WHAT I LOOK FOR MITCH McCONNELL TO DO IS TO BASICALLY PICK TWO OR THREE AND MAKE THEM THE SORT OF RESOUNDING TALKING POINTS.

BUT HE WILL PICK THOSE TWO OR THREE BASED ON WHAT JUST HAPPENED IN THE ELECTION.

AND SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE SOFT ON CRIME POLICIES; EVERYONE BE PREPARED.

THAT IS GOING TO BE THE TALKING POINT, SOFT ON CRIME, SOFT ON CRIME.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE, HOWEVER, IS IF MITCH McCONNELL WILL ATTEMPT TO ROLL IN EVEN SOME RECOGNITION OF WHY WE ENDED UP WITH BLACK LIVES MATTER, ET CETERA.

WILL THERE BE ANY RECOGNITION THAT THERE DOES NEED SOMEBODY SOME MORE CLEAR OVERNIGHT OR WILL IT SIMPLY BE GET TOUGH ON CRIME, NO EXASH BAIL, ET CETERA.

-- NO CASH BAIL, ET CETERA.

I THINK HE WILL FOCUS ON SOME SORT OF CLEAN ENERGY.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY SOFT, VERY FUZZY, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ATTRACTS YOUNG PEOPLE.

SO HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO TRY AND COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF PLAN FOR THAT.

AND THE OTHER THING IS I THINK HE IS REALLY GOING TO EMPHASIZE THE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE BORDER.

WHETHER HE WILL COME UP WITH A PLAQUE WAY TO DO THAT-- A PRACTICAL WAY TO DO THAT WILL BE SOMETHING TO BE SEEN.

>> A WAY THAT'S PRACTICAL AND ALSO EFFECTIVE.

REALLY QUICKLY.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENS OF THE WORLD, THAT THEIR NEXT MOVE IS TO BEGIN NOT JUST INVESTIGATING HUNTER BIDEN BUT TO CONNECT THE PRESIDENT TO THE BUSINESS DEALINGS OF HUNTER BIDEN AND ALREADY PUTTING IN PLACE FOLKS WHO WILL BE ON THOSE COMMITTEES.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO GO VERY FAR?

>> I MEAN LOOK, THE DEMOCRATS DID INVESTIGATE REPUBLICAN LEADERS, RIGHT?

AND NOW REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO INVESTIGATE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS AND THIS IS THE SAD REALITY WE ARE IN, I SUPPOSE FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE.

BUT I DO THINK MANY REPUBLICANS WOULD BE ON BOARD FOR INVESTIGATING, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER DEALINGS THAT BIDEN OR BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAVE HAD.

>> SIGN OF THE TIMES MAY BE THE NEXT STORY.

WE HOPE NOT BUT LET'S SEE.

NBA STAR KYLIE IRVING WAS PENALIZED FOR WHAT APPEARED TO BE HIS SUPPORT OF AN ANTI-SEMITIC FILM • HEBREWS TO NEGROES.

MEANWHILE, AMAZON AND BARNES & NOBLE SELL THE FILM AND BOOK GLOBALLY.

AND THEY DO IT TO MAKE MONEY.

SAME FILM AND BOOK, BUT DIFFERENT OUTCOMES.

SO FAR RADIO TALK SHOW HOST JOE ROGUE AN QUESTIONED WHY IRVING IS BEING PUNISHED BUT NOT AMAZON.

HE BELIEVES MORE BLAME SHOULD BE PLACED ON AMAZON FOR SELLING THE MOVIE.

TARA DO YOU AGREE OR ARE WE COMPARING APPLES AND ORANGES?

>> WELL, I DON'T AGREE.

I DON'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE MORE BLAME PLACED ON AMAZON.

I DON'T THINK KYLIE IRVING SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED FOR WHAT HE DID BECAUSE WE DO HAVE FREE SPEECH IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT AMAZON IS A BUSINESS JUST LIKE BOOKS BEING SOLD BY AMAZON AND BASHES & NOBLE THAT HAVE POSITIVE THINGS IN THEM, THERE ARE ALSO BOOKS, FILMS THAT HAVE NEGATIVE THINGS IN THEM.

AND IF WE WENT THROUGH AND FOUND EVERY BOOK, EVERY MOVIE THAT HAS SOMETHING NEGATIVE THAT COULD BE HARMFUL TO SOMEONE AND SAID AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE, DON'T SELL IT, THEY'RE OUT OF BUSINESS.

IN THE SAME WAY WITH KYLIE IRVING.

IF HE HAD DIRECTLY STATED, AND TO LITERALLY TO ANTI-SEMITIC THINGS, THEN I COULD UNDERSTAND WHY THE NETS WOULD HAVE RESPONDED SO STRONGLY.

HE TWEETED ABOUT A FILM.

THEN THE NEXT ISSUE WAS, WELL, YOU DIDN'T GIVE AN APOLOGY THAT WE THOUGHT WAS APPROPRIATE.

WITH EACH STEP IT SOUNDS MORE AND MORE LIKE WE OWN YOU.

THIS IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.

>> THAT IS NOT... >> I CAN'T IMAGINE IF A WHITE NBA PLAYER HAD RETWEETED BOOKS, MOVIES, THAT DENIED SLAVERY, THAT PUT BLACKS IN THE VIEW THAT THIS BOOK PUT JEWS IN, THAT THERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN TWICE AS QUICK AN ACTION AS THERE WAS WITH RESPECT TO IRVING.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE NBA, AS THE MOST SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS LEAGUE IN ALL OF PRO-SPORTS, HAD TO MOVE QUICKLY.

I DO THINK THAT, FIRST OF ALL, AMAZON AND BARNES & NOBLE CAN BE PUNISHED.

THEY CAN BE PUNISHED BY CONSUMERS IF THEY THINK THEY SHOULDN'T BE OFFERING THOSE TYPES OF MATERIAL.

THE ONE SORT OF CONTRADICTION I SEE IS BETWEEN BARNES & NOBLE AND AMAZON AND SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES.

WE ARE NOW TRYING TO HOLD SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES VERY ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT IS ON THEIR SITES; TO TAKE DOWN THINGS THAT ARE HATEFUL OR NOT TRUTHFUL.

ABOUT THE WHY AREN'T WE HOLDING AMAZON AND BARNES & NOBLE TO THE SAME STANDARDS?

THAT, I THINK, WOULD BE A MORE APPROPRIATE APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON RATHER THAN KYRIE IRVING TO AMAZON.

>> SEE, WHEN I LOOK AT THIS STUFFER, RIGHT, I SEE A VERY CLEAR HOW WOULD I PUT IT, A SORT OF DISPROPORTIONATE AND DISCRIMINATORY POLITICS OF COMPASSION AND OUTRAGE.

FIRST OF ALL LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY.

YOU CAN GET MEIN KOMPF ON AMAZON, YOU CAN GET A WHOLE BUNCH OF RACIST STUFF WRITTEN BY AMERICAN PRESIDENTS ON AMAZON SO WHERE WOULD WE STOP.

AND SECOND, I'M A PERSON OF BENGALI ORIGIN.

WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE QUEEN OR WINSTON CHURCHILL, I'M REMINDED OF 2.5 MILLION BENGALIS BECAUSE OF CHURCH CHURCH'S POLICIES IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR.

IT WAYS GENOCIDE.

SO ANY TIME ANYONE TWEETS OUT BENGALI, SHOULD-- IT IS LIKE OPPRESSION OLYMPICS THAT NOBODY CAN ACTUALLY WIN.

I DO AGREE THAT IF HE VIOLATED POLICIES OF NBA, THEIR POLICIES, THEN YES, THE NBA CAN TAKE POSITIONS AGAINST THIS.

BUT IF ANYBODY TWEETS ANYTHING, THEN WE KNOW, IF YOU START CLEANING HOUSE, THIS IS THE UNITED STATES.

WE CAN READ MOST OF OUR HISTORICAL FIGURES AND WHAT THEY HAVE WRITTEN AND THEN THE OUTRAGE BY THIS BUT NOT OUTRAGED BY THE COLONIAL THINGS THAT HAPPENED AROUND THE WORLD.

WE CELEBRATE THE QUEEN INSTEAD.

HOW DOES THAT SIT?

>> WHO ARE CLOSER TO HOME, HOW ABOUT BRETT FAVRE AND THE FACT THAT HE MAY HAVE, YOU KNOW, SORT OF SIPHONED WELFARE MONEY.

SO I THINK ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT WOULD PUSH BACK AGAINST WHAT ANIRBAN JUST SAID IS THAT THE ANTI-DEFEND NATION LEAGUE HAS FOUND A REMARKABLE INCREASE IN BOTH ANTI-SEMITIC REMARKS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, ALSO INCIDENTS IN WHICH JEWS ARE PHYSICALLY TARGETED, PHYSICALLY HARMED.

WE HEARD ABOUT THE SYNAGOGUE BEING BURNED.

SO IS THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN JUST TALK?

BUT ACTUALLY TALK THAT HAS IMPACT?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK SO.

AND SORT OF A BROADER POINT IS THAT THESE ARE REALLY NOT FREE SPEECH ISSUES.

IN THIS CONSTITUTIONAL OR LEGAL SENSE FREE SPEECH VIOLATIONS ONLY COME ABOUT WHEN IT INVOLVES THE GOVERNMENT AND NEITHER OF THESE CASES THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT INVOLVE THE GOVERNMENT SUPPRESSING ANY KIND OF SPEECH.

SO THE NETS TOOK ACTION BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE IDEAS.

UNDERSTANDABLY.

AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.

AND THEY'RE TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR BRAND.

AND AS FAR AS AMAZON GOES, AND THOSE WHO SELL THEM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE WELCOME TO PUT PRESSURE ON THOSE COMPANIES TO CHANGE THEIR POLICIES, WHICH IS ALREADY HAPPENING.

AND SO I AGREE THE LARGER CONTEXT HERE IS THIS KIND OF INCREASE IN ASSAULTS, INCREASE IN VANDALISM AND HARASSMENT OF JEWISH PEOPLE.

AND IETD A PROBLEM WHEN WE HAVE PUBLIC PERSONALITIES WHO ARE, IN A SENSE, KIND OF, IN SOME SENSE LEGITIMIZING ANTI-SEMMIC TROPES AND IT'S NOT EVEN JUST TROPES ANYMORE.

IT'S EXPLICIT ANTI-SEMITIC LANGUAGE THAT'S BEING USED.

>> IT'S DIFFERENT WHEN YOU HAVE CELEBRITIES ON A HUGE PLATFORM IS THE POINT THAT YOU ARE MAKING.

>> GLUTLY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> IT'S TIME FOR US TO GO TO THE GRADEBOOK AND WE ARE GOING TO START RICK WITH YOUR F. >> TO CONGRESS FOR FAILING TO LEGISLATE THE CRYPTOCURRENTCY INDUSTRY.

FDX, THE WORLD'S THIRD LARGEST CRYPTOEXCHANGE DECLARED BANKRUPTCY OWING CUSTOMERS AS MUCH AS $8 BILLION.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY SIGNS THAT THE CRYPTOCRAZE MAY BE IN DANGER OF IMPLODING.

MUCH OF THE PAIN COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF CONGRESS HAD ACTED.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> I LIKE THAT THE BANK MAN'S NAME IS BANKMAN FRIED.

THE INEFFICIENCY OF THE CUOMO ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS FRAUDSTERS CLAIMING FAKE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS THAT HAVE COST THE NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC $11 BILLION.

AS A RECENT AUDIT BY THE NEW YORK STATE COMPTROLLER DiNAPOLI FOUND.

TOTALLY GENERALLY HIVE 76.3 BILLION OF UNEMPLOYMENT PAYMENTS WERE MADE.

IT IS A GOOD TIME TO OVERHAUL THIS DISBURSEMENT SYSTEM THAT IS RUNNING ON COLD WAR ERA TECH.

>> A LITTLE BEHIND.

>> SARAH.

>> SO MY F THIS WEEK GOES TO INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE UNITED STATES.

A LOT OF US HAVE PROBABLY COMPLAINED ABOUT OUR PROVIDERS.

BUT A RECENT PROJECT BY THE CONSUMER REPORTS REVEALS THAT A LOT OF THE TRICKS THAT THOUGH USE TO CONFUSE CUSTOMERS AND KIND OF JACK UP THE PRICES USING SORT OF OBSCURE AND HIDDEN FEES.

ONE EXAMPLE IS EGREGIOUS.

A COMPANY CHARGED CUSTOMERS ALMOST $8 A MONTH FOR SOMETHING THEY CALLED DEREGULATED ADMINISTRATIVE FEE.

SOUNDS LIKE A GOVERNMENT FEE.

IT'S NOT.

THE GOVERNMENT, UNFORTUNATELY, HAS ALLOWED THE BROADBAND INDUSTRY TO GET AWAY WITH WRITING ITS OWN RULES FOR PRICES, FEES AND EVEN HOW TRANSPARENT PROVIDERS NEED TO BE ON THE BILLS AND THAT SHOULD CHANGE.

>> OKAY.

AND VERY QUICKLY.

TARA.

>> MY F GOES TO CALDWELL NURNG CO-CHAIR REPUBLICAN PARTY GORDON LASHI.

HIS NEIGHBOR WAS SPRAYING TREES FOR LANTERN FLIES WHICH KILLED THE TREES.

INSTEAD OF COMING OUT ASKING HER WHAT SHE WAS DOING OR INVESTIGATING, HE CALLED THE POLICE ON HER AND SAID THAT THERE WAS A LITTLE BLACK WOMAN GOING AROUND SPRAYING THINGS.

WHEN THE POLICE GOT THERE, THEY QUICKLY REALIZED WHAT THE SITUATION WAS APOLOGIZED.

BUT Mr. LASHI HAS NEVER APOLOGIZED, FAILED TO MEET WITH THE YOUNG LADY OR MOTHER AND DOUBLED DOWN AND SAID HE WAS GOING TO SUE FOR DEFAMATION.

>> SO WE HAVE TO GO VERY, VERY QUICKLY.

LET'S GO QUICKLY.

>> A TO THE GENERAL TONE OF THE ELECTION FEARS OF ENTAME DAYS AND INTERFERENCE AT THE POLLS DIDN'T MATERIALIZE.

ALMOST ALL OF THE LOSERS GRACIOUSLY ACCEPTED DEFEAT.

>> SARAH.

>> MY A GOES TO THE ANIMAL CARE TEAM AND VETS AT ROSAMOND GIFFORD ZOO.

AT THE END OF OCTOBER, TWO TWIN ASIAN ELEPHANT BABIES WERE BORN WHICH IS A VERY, VERY RARE OCCURRENCE.

THEY RARELY SURVIVE.

AND THEY HAVE TAKEN GREAT CARE OF THE ANIMALS.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> TO BANKS' ARTWORK POPPING UP ALL OVER WAR DIVESTED UKRAINE.

>> FANTASTIC.

TARA.

>> MY A TO ALL THE SPORTS, THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS PRICE REWIND, 2019 PRICES ON HOLIDAY ITEMS.

>> I LIKE THAT.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE ARE OUT OF TIME HERE IN THE STUDIO BUT WE WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION WITH YOU.

PLEASE WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

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I'M NINA MOORE.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT IVORY TOWER, GOOD NIGHT.

AND WE HOPE YOU HAD A HAPPY THANKSGIVING.