>> STAY TUNED TO HEAR WHO IS SPENDING $5-MILLION-DOLLARS IN CENTRAL NEW YORK AND AROUND THE STATE.

IVORY TOWER IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M BARBARA FOUGHT, FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

JOINING ME ON THE PANEL THIS WEEK ARE NINA MOORE, FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

A NEW PANELIST FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY --- JENNY STROMER-GALLEY.

SHE IS A PROFESSOR AT THE SCHOOL OF INFORMATION STUDIES.

WELCOME, JENNY >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> SARAH PRALLE, ALSO FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, AND TARA ROSS, FROM ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

AND I THINK THIS IS OUR FIRST ALL WOMAN PANEL, SO THIS IS FUN.

GOVERNOR HOCHUL WITH THE STATE OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTIES, HINK THE PATH TO TURNING THE U.S. HOUSE BLUE • RUNS THROUGH CENTRAL NEW YORK.

OUR VIEWERSHIP AREA INCLUDES TWO OF THEIR TARGET DISTRICTS.

THEY'VE RAISED $5 MILLION DOLLARS, WILL SOON FIELD 80 STAFF STATEWIDE• AND SET UP 35 NEW OFFICES.

THAT INCLUDES ONES IN UTICA, AUBURN, ITHACA, NORTH SYRACUSE, AND CAZENOVIA.

BOTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 19 STRETCHING FROM AROUND ITHACA EAST AND SOUTH•.

AND DISTRICT 22 --- SURROUNDING SYRACUSE -- WILL BE GETTING PEOPLE AND MONEY.

AND SO NINA, HOW SHOULD THEY BE SPENDING THAT MONEY?

>> WELL, WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE FACT THAT THE AVERAGE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT HAS JUST NORTH OF 76 IS,000 VOTERS,-- 761,000 VOTERS, THE TRADITIONAL METHODS ARE NOT GOING TO CUT IT AND THEY HAVEN'T FOR SOMETIME.

SO IN TERMS OF CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURES, IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO FOCUS ON WHAT MOST OTHER CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES FOCUS ON AND THAT IS ADVERTISING.

FIRST AND FOREMOST.

SECONDARILY, THINGS LIKE CONSULTING POLLING TO HAVE A SENSE HOW TO CRAFT ONE'S MESSAGE.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO CRAFT A MESSAGE THAT HAS SPECIFIC IMPORTANCE FOR UPSTATE.

UPSTATE'S ISSUES ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF NEW YORK STATE AND THEY INCLUDE, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE OPIOID CRISIS, SPECIFICALLY FENTANYL, BECAUSE ROUGHLY 8 IS%-- 81% OF FOLKS WHO LIVE UPSTATE SAY IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM, SPECIFICALLY WITHIN THEIR OWN AREA.

SECOND TO THAT, IS JOB GROWTH BECAUSE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, 90% OF THE JOB GROWTH DOES NOT HAPPEN UPSTATE, BUT RATHER DOWNSTATE.

AND A RECENT POLL OF BUSINESS LEADERS IN UPSTATE POINTED OUT THAT BUSINESS CONDITIONS HAVE WORSENED.

THOAF ALWAYS BEEN WORSE AS COMPARED TO DOWNSTATE, BUT THEY'RE WORSENED.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT THAT AND ALSO, OF COURSE, THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY, WHICH SETS UPSTATE APART FROM DOWNSTATE.

FOCUSING ON WHAT PARTIES TO UPSTATE WHICH IS NOT GOING TO BE THE CULTURAL ISSUES.

I DON'T THINK THE ABORTION ISSUE IS GOING TO RESONATE AS MUCH AS ELSEWHERE, NOR WILL THE TRANSGENDER ISSUES OR DEI.

>> HOW ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA?

HOW WILL THAT PLAY IN THESE DISTRICTS?

SL THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE SOCIAL TYPICALLY IS MORE NATIONAL FOCUSED, TYPICALLY, RIGHT?

SO THE NATURE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IS HIGH LEVEL VISIBLE THINGS THAT EVERYBODY CAN SEE, EVERYBODY EXPERIENCES SO THE PRESIDENTIAL GETS A LOT OF ATTENTION, BUT THE DOWN BALLOT RACES ON SOCIAL ARE A LITTLE LESS EFFECTIVE.

SO SOMETHING NINA SAID THAT I WANTED TO PIGGY BACK ON WHICH IS THAT THE GROUND GAME CAN MATTER.

SO BRANDON WILLIAMS WAS SUCCESSFUL AT THE SURPRISE WIN TWO YEARS AGO IN THE 22nd BECAUSE HE WAS INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE AT GOING DOOR TO DOOR.

HE WAS IN EVERY LITTLE PARADE AND EVERY REGIONAL TOWN.

HE DID A LOT OF DOOR KNOCKING.

HE HAD VOLUNTEERS.

HE WAS ALSO, OF COURSE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ON ADS AND DOING ALL THAT WORK TO MOBILIZE SUPPORTERS.

BUT THE GROUND GAME STILL MATTERS AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE CALCULOUS WE ARE SEEING FROM THE STATE.

LET'S GET PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES, IN THESE LITTLE FIELD OFFICES, TALKING TO NEIGHBORS, TALKING TO FRIENDS.

THAT'S AS IMPACTFUL IF NOT MORE IMPACTFUL THAN THE TV ADS AND THE SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> I HAVE TO TELL YOU AND THIS IS TO REINFORCE WHAT YOU ARE SAYING AND TO SUPPLEMENT WHAT I SAID BEFORE.

I ATTENDED A CHURCH SERVICE WHERE BRANDON WILLIAMS CAME AND SPOKE AND IT IS A PREDOMINANTLY BLACK CHURCH AND I GOT TO TELL YOU, I WAS REALLY STRUCK BY THE SORT OF SINCERITY OF THE REMARKS THAT HE HAD TO OFFER BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT HIM AND HAVEN'T FOLLOWED HIM BUT JUST THAT SHORTEN COUNTER, I WAS THINKING, HMM, HE IS AN INTERESTING PERSON.

>> THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE I'VE HEARD THAT ONE OF HIS FAULTS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS BEEN THAT HE HASN'T BEEN SHOWING UP TO MUCH, RIGHT?

AND I THINK IT'S JUST PROBABLY RECENTLY THAT HE IS TRYING TO UP HIS APPEARANCES BECAUSE HE HASN'T REALLY SPENT MUCH TIME, FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD.

BUT I THINK THE LARGER QUESTION IS HERE, SORT OF UNDERLYING ALL OF THIS IS HOW MUCH DOES MONEY REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THESE CAMPAIGNS AND THE CAMPAIGN SPENDING?

AND $5 MILLION ISN'T A LOT OF MONEY IN THE LARGER SCHEME OF THINGS.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT CAN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND THE POLITICAL SCIENCE LITERATURE IS DIFFICULT TO TEASE OUT HOW MUCH CAMPAIGN SPENDING REALLY AFFECTS VOTES AND VOTER AND OUTCOMES.

BUT THERE IS A RECENT STUDY THAT I THINK DID A REALLY NICE JOB OF TRYING TO TEASE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT OUT.

WHAT THEY FIND IS THAT SPENDING ON ADVERTISEMENT AND EVENTS DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE, BUT IT DOESN'T PERSUADE PEOPLE TO SWITCH VOTES.

INSTEAD, IT SORT OF CHANGES THE COMPOSITION OF THE ELECTORATE.

AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT IT DOES IS IT DISCOURAGES VOTERS WHO WOULD VOTE FOR YOUR OPPONENT TO ACTUALLY GOING OUT AND VOTING.

SO MY GUESS-- AND THEY DON'T TALK ABOUT WHY THAT MIGHT BE THE CASE-- MY GUESS IS BECAUSE IT WOULD BE FROM NEGATIVE ADVERTISING AND DEPRESSES THE VOTE OF YOUR OPPONENT AND WHEN YOU HAVE MARGINS OF 1% WHICH IS WHAT IT WAS IN NEW YORK 22, THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHO SHOWS UP.

IF PEOPLE ARE NOT SHOWING UP TO VET ON ONE SIDE, THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE IMPACT OF KAMALA AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

WILL THAT CREATE MORE ENTHUSIASM HERE?

>> IT'S HARD TO SAY BECAUSE ON THE ONE HAND IT WILL CREATE MORE ENTHUSIASM ON THE PART OF YOUNG PEOPLE, CERTAINLY YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICANS, YOUNG FEMALES.

I THINK IT CREATES MORE ENTHUSIASM ON THEIR PART.

I THINK, THOUGH, AND THIS GETS BACK TO SOME OF THE POINTS THAT THE REST OF THE PANELISTS HAVEID MA, IS THAT IT MAY OR MAY NOT HELP WITH MORE TRADITIONAL VOTERS, OLDER VOTERS, WHO ARE GOING TO LOOK AT HARRIS, THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO FOCUS MUCH MORE ON HER RECORD, EXPERIENCE, IN TERMS OF AS A PROSECUTOR, WHERE DOES SHE STAND ON SUPPORT FOR THE POLICE, WHERE DOES SHE STAND ON IMMIGRATION.

THEY'RE GOING TO FOCUS MORE ON THOSE BIGGER ISSUES AS WELL AS THE ECONOMIC MY POCKET ISSUES.

ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT IN TERMS OF THAT $5 MILLION EFFORT AND THE 80 STAFF, A LOT IS GOING TO DEPEND WHERE THOSE PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM AS WELL.

IF THOSE FOLKS ARE COMING FROM OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S ALSO GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT BECAUSE YOU ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO LISTEN TO SOMEONE WHO KNOWS YOUR COMMUNITY, IS PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY THAN YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO IS COMING FROM OUTSIDE IN, WHO, YOU MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE SUSPICIOUS OF OR SAY WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S NICE THAT YOU ARE HERE BUT YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT I'M EXPERIENCING.

>> GOOD, WELL, WE MENTIONED THE NEW YORK 22 AND I DON'T WANT TO FORGET THE OTHER TARGETED DISTRICT IS NEW YORK 19 IN WHICH JOSH RILEY IS THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE RUNNING AGAINST MARK MULL NARL OWE.

WELL AFTER THE U.S. SUPREME COURT RULINGSES ON ABORTION AND PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY ALONG THE JUSTICES POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, MANY PEOPLE ARE QUESTIONING THE IN A POLL IN APRIL, 51% OF AMERICANS DISAPPROVED OF THE WAY THE SUPREME COURT IS HANDLING ITS ROLE.

NOW PRESIDENT BIDEN IS PROPOSING THE COURT HAVE A CODE OF ETHICS THAT CAN BE ENFORCED.

AND HE SUGGESTS AN 18-YEAR-TERM-LIMIT ON THE JUSTICES.

AND I'M WONDERING, TARA, ARE TERM LIMITS A GOOD IDEA.

>> LET'S FIRST REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WHEN YOU BECOME A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, IT'S FOR LIFE.

SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE BASICALLY AN AMENDMENT AND THAT WOULD HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, FIRST CONGRESS HAS TO MAKE THE PROPOSAL, YOU HAVE THE AMENDMENT, THEN OF COURSE IT HAS TO BE SPENT OUT TO THE STATES FOR RATIFICATION.

TO DO ANY OF THIS.

SO THAT'S THE FIRST ISSUE.

BUT THE SECOND ISSUE, I THINK, IS THE FACT THAT TERM LIMITS HAVE BECOME MUCH MORE OF AN ISSUE, AS PEOPLE LIVE LONGER, AND AS CLEARLY, YOU ARE SEEING NOW AND THIS HAS BEEN A BIG DEBATE ABOUT COGNITIVE ABILITY.

AND YOU KNOW, HOW PHYSICAL DO YOU NEED TO BE TO BE A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE SO TO SPEAK AS OPPOSED TO WHAT WE HAVE SEEN WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HIS CAMPAIGNING, ET CETERA.

SO TERM LIMITS ARE MUCH MORE REALISTIC, I THINK NOW THAN THEY WERE IN THE PAST BECAUSE IN THE PAST, YOU DIDN'T REALLY THINK THAT SOMEONE COULD ACTUALLY SERVE AS A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE FOR 30 OR 40 YEARS, ALL DEPENDING ON WHEN THEY WERE APPOINTED.

AND WITH MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY BEING WHAT IT IS, IT IS MUCH MORE LIKELY THAT SOMEONE CAN SERVE FOR THAT LENGTH OF TIME.

>> YEAH, JUSTICE STEVENS, I THINK HE RETIRED WHEN HE WAS 90 YEARS OLD, 90 OR 91.

BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS MOST SUPREME COURT JUSTICES REALLY DON'T DO MUCH OF THEIR OWN WORK.

THEY HAVE FIVE OR SIX LAW CLERKS THAT DO THE HEAVY LIFTING BUT ULTIMATELY THE DECISION IS THEIRS.

I WANT TO ECHO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU INTED THIS PLAN.

I SEE IT AS PIE IN THE SKY, PRECISELY BECAUSE IN ORDER FOR YOU TO REVERSE, SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, THE DOBBS ABORTION DECISION, WHICH WAS BASED ON AN INTERPRETATION OF THE CONSTITUTION, YOU WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION WHICH REQUIRES A TWO-THIRDS VOTE IN BOTH CHAMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THREE FOURTHS RATIFICATION BY STATES WHICH AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN IN THIS PERIOD OF POLARIZATION.

THERE IS SOME LOW HANGING FRUIT THAT DEMOCRATS COULD TURN TO, JUST AS DURING THE ROOSEVELT YEARS, THERE IS THE OPTION OF PACKING THE COURT, OF JURISDICTION STRIPPING, SOMETHING I'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.

BUT ALSO YOU COULD FLOOD THE COURT WITH A 10,000 OR SO PETITIONS THAT THEY GET EVERY YEAR AND MAKE THEM UNABLE TO CARVE OUT A POLICY AGENDA THAT WOULD MAKE THEM MORE POWERFUL THAN I THINK THE FRAMERS INITIALLY EXPECTED THEM TO BE.

SO SOME OF THIS MAKES SENSE.

SOME OF IT IS PIE IN THE SKY.

>> WELL I THINK TERM LIMITS MAKES SENSE.

I AGREE WITH YOU THAT THERE IS ACTUALLY PROBABLY MORE EFFECTIVE AND QUICKER WAYS OF CHANGING THE COURT, WHICH IS ADDING MEMBERS, BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY POLITICALLY POPULAR AND I THINK IT WOULD BE SEEN AS KIND OF MORE PARTISAN, WHEREAS THERE IS HIGH PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR TERM LIMITS.

AND SO THIS IS NOT AN IMMEDIATE SOLUTION TO THE FACT THAT THE COURT SEEMS VERY UNRESPONSIVE TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

BUT I THINK OVER THE LONG-TERM, THE IDEA IS OVER THE LONG-TERM, IT WOULD BECOME MORE RESPONSIVE THROUGH THE ELECTORAL CONNECTION AND ONE OF THE PROBLEMS OF WHY THIS COURT IS SO OUTSIDE OF THE DEMOCRATIC MAINSTREAM, AND I MEAN SMALL D DEMOCRATIC IS THAT THEY HOLD THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE LOST THE PRESIDENCY, THE POPULAR VOTE, I SHOULD SAY OUT OF THE SEVEN OF THE LAST 8 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AND YET THEY HAVE APPOINTED SIX OF THE LAST NINE JUSTICES.

YOU CAN LOSE ELECTION AND STILL HAVE THE MAJORITY ON THE SUPREME COURT WHICH TARA SAID THESE PEOPLE ARE SERVING FOR AN AVERAGE OF 26 YEARS AS OPPOSED TO ABOUT 15 YEARS IN THE PAST.

SO YOU HAVE THESE NINE PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN EXTRAORDINARY POWER OVER OUR LIVES, SEEMINGLY INDEFINITELY.

IF KAMALA HARRIS WINS, SHE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO APPOINT ANYONE IF SHE WERE TO BE RE-ELECTED, TOO, IN EIGHT YEARS SHE WOULD APPOINT NO ONE BECAUSE OF THE COMPOSITION OF THE COURT RIGHT NOW.

>> ONE CONCERN I HAVE IS THAT PUBLIC TREFT IN THE SUPREME COURT HAS PLUMMETED, RIGHT?

SO IN THE EARLY 2000S, IT WAS AROUND 60%.

IT'S NOW AROUND 40%.

SO GOING BACK TO YOUR POINT, THE PUBLIC DOESN'T SEE THE SUPREME COURT AS A NEUTRAL ARBITER IN THE WAY THAT I THINK WE HAD AT TIMES IN THE PAST SEEN IT AS A NEUTRAL ARBITER.

THE SUPREME COURT HAS NEVER BEEN PERFECT, RIGHT?

I THINK WE DO HAVE THIS PROBLEM OF GLORIFYING THE PAST, AND WE KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROBLEMATIC CASES IN THE PAST.

BUT NEVERTHELESS, THERE IS A CRISIS RIGHT NOW, I THINK, AND THE LEGITIMACY OF THE COURT IS IN JEOPARDY.

SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE.

WHAT THAT IS, I DON'T KNOW.

>> WELL, I JUST VERY QUICKLY, I WANT TO CAUTION ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE, NOT JUST NOW BUT REFLECTING BACK IN THE PAST.

WHEN THE WARREN COURT OVERTURNED TONS OF PRECEDENT TO IMPLEMENT CRIMINAL RIGHTS, CIVIL RIGHTS, WOMEN'S RIGHTS, ALL WHAT HAVE WE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT IN REGARD TO THIS COURT WERE COMPLAINTS THAT SOUTHERNERS LODGED AGAINST THAT COURT.

WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE GOOSE HAS TO BE GOOD FOR THE GANDER.

WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION OR CONGRESS.

>> FOR OUR THIRD TOPIC, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA.

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS NOW WARNING POLITICAL CANDIDATES ABOUT THE INCREASING AMOUNT OF MISINFORMATION BEING SPREAD ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY FOREIGN POWERS TRYING TO INFLUENCE OUR 2024 ELECTIONS.

RECENTLY, U.S. INTELLIGENCE HAS DISRUPTED A RUSSIAN OPERATION THAT USES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO SPREAD PROPAGANDA HERE IN THE U.S. AS RUSSIA TRIES TO UNDERMINE SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE.

JENNY, THIS IS YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE, IS IT WORSE THAN EVER OR ARE OFFICIALS JUST BETTER AT FINDING IT?

>> YEAH, IT'S A REALLY, REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

IT'S HARD TO SAY.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW.

BUT I I AM CERTAIN THAT THERE IS INCREASED EFFORTS BY FOREIGN ACTORS TO INTERVENE IN THE U.S. ELECTION BECAUSE WE ARE MORE POLARIZED AT THIS MOMENT IN OUR POLITICAL, THIS KIND OF POLITICAL MOMENT, IT LEAVES US VULNERABLE, I THINK, TO FOREIGN OPERATIONS THAT ARE EFFECTIVELY USING THE FRAGMENTS INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT THAT WE HAVE TODAY, PLUS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, TO SOW FURTHER MISUNDERSTANDINGS, MISINFORMATION, DISSENT.

THAT LEAVES US VULNERABLE AND THAT'S SOME OF THE INTENTION, I THINK OF SOME OF THE FOREIGN ACTORS.

>> DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF WHO IS MOST SUSCEPTIBLE HERE?

>> YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW IT SEEMS TO BE THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE THAT IN TERMS OF THE FOREIGN PLAYERS, THEY REALLY ARE TARGETING ACTIVITIES THAT WOULD ENSURE THAT A DEMOCRAT WOULD LOSE, THAT DEMOCRATS POTENTIALLY COULD LOSE CONGRESS, THAT SORT OF THING.

AND I THINK BECAUSE THEY SEE TRUMP AS BEING MORE FAVORABLE, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF PUTIN, IN TERMS OF TRUMP'S VIEWS OF NATO, IN TERMS OF SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE.

SO I THINK RIGHT NOW THEY'RE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE, BUT I THINK THE BROADER SENSES IS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE.

I WAS REALLY STUNNED TO SEE SORT OF THE LEVEL OF INFORMATION THAT YOUNG PEOPLE GET FROM, AND WHEN I SAY YOUNG PEOPLE, 18-29 YEAR OLDS, THAT THEY GET THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEIR QUOTE UNQUOTE NEWS INFORMATION FROM SOCIAL MEDIA, WHICH WAS JUST SORT OF AMAZING TO ME.

BUT EVEN WITH THAT BEING SAID, 53% OF ALL AMERICANS GET SOME OF THEIR NEWS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.

SO I REALLY SEE THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN COMPONENTS OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC THAT ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE CERTAINLY IN TERMS OF POLITICAL PARTIES, IT'S THE DEMOCRATS.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> EL WITH, I MEAN I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS QUESTION OF WHO IS SUSCEPTIBLE AND TO WHAT, I THINK IS WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

WE KNOW THERE IS LOTS OF DISINFORMATION OUT THERE ABOUT THE ELECTIONS BUT I THINK THE KEY QUESTION, I DON'T REALLY KNOW, MAYBE JENNY YOU DO, IS DOES IT REALLY CHANGE PEOPLE'S VOTES?

HOW DOES IT AFFECT VOTERS IN ELECTIONS?

AND FROM WHAT I JUST OBSERVE IS THAT THE FLOOD OF DISINFORMATION MAKES PEOPLE DISTRUST ANY SORT OF INFORMATION SO I THINK THE PROBLEM IS SORT OF BROADER, RIGHT, THAT IT MAKES PEOPLE LOSE FAITH IN JOURNALISTS, IN, YOU KNOW, INFORMATION THAT'S ACTUALLY RELIABLE, RIGHT.

AND THEN THE BIGGEST ISSUE AROUND THIS, OF COURSE, I THINK WAS THE 2020 ELECTION, HOW EFFECTIVE THAT DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN WITH REPUBLICANS.

I MEAN THE PERCENTAGE OF REPUBLICANS WHO THINK THE 2020 ELECTION WAS STOLEN IS REALLY ALARMING.

AND THAT UNDERMINES CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTIONS, WHICH IS SUCH A BEDROCK OF DEMOCRACY.

SO I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW IT OPERATES BUT IT DOES SEEM TO LEAD TO GREATER DISTRUST OF INSTITUTIONS.

>> NINA.

>> YEAH, I'M SO HAPPY THAT JENNY HAS JOINED THE PANEL SO YOU CAN HELP US GOING FORWARD IN UNDERSTANDING THESE ISSUES BECAUSE I HAVE THIS VERY STRONG CONVICTION THAT IF WE WERE ABLE TO CHANGE THE NATURE OF OUR POLITICAL DISCOURSE SO THAT WE ARE NOT FOCUSING ON PERSONALITY, WHO SAID WHAT, WHO IS NICE AND WHO IS MEAN, BUT RATHER POLICY, THAT MIGHT MAKE SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO MANIPULATION AND INTERFERENCE.

AND THE OTHER THING IS FOR US, GIVEN WHAT TARA SAID ABOUT YOUNG FOLK REALLY RELYING DISPROPORTIONATELY ON SOCIAL MEDIA, FOR US AS INSTRUCTORS, TO TEACH OUR STUDENTS HOW TO DISCERN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FACT AND FICTION, TO KNOW WHAT IS A RELIABLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND WHAT ISN'T.

AND SO IF WE BASICALLY MAKE OUR VOTERS, OUR STUDENTS IN PARTICULAR, SMARTER THINKERS, THEN MAYBE THAT IS AT LEAST PARTIALLY A RESPONSE TO THE MANIPULATION.

>> JENNY, I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR RESEARCH ON HOW POLITICIANS NAMES ARE BEING USED IN SCAMMING PEOPLE BECAUSE I FOUND THIS FASCINATING.

>> SO WE'VE BEEN COLLECTING ADS ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM TO SEE WHAT ADVERTISERS ON THAT PLATFORM ARE SAYING WHEN THEY MENTION ANY OF THE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

AND THE REASON WE ARE LOOKING AT FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM IS BECAUSE IT'S A MICROTARGETTED ADVERTISING PLATFORM, SO IT'S STRATEGIC MESSAGEING TARGETED TO SMALL POCKETS OF THE POPULATION.

IT'S NOT BROADCAST, IT'S NARROW CAST.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE UNEARTHED THE IN ANALYSIS WE COMPLETED FROM A COLLECTION OF ADS THAT RAN FROM SEPTEMBER TO APRIL IS A FAIRLY LARGE COORDINATED INAUTHENTIC NETWORK OF ADVERTISERS THAT ARE MENTIONING SAY DONALD TRUMP AND TALKING ABOUT IF YOU ARE A TRUE SUPPORTER OF DONALD TRUMP, NOW IS YOUR CHANCE, CLICK ON THIS POLL, SHARE YOUR SUPPORT FOR TRUMP AND IN EXCHANGE WE'LL GET YOU A MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN FLAG.

>> WOW, SO THIS IS A PROBLEM.

>> IT'S A FLAG.

>> IT'S A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE PEOPLE GIVE THEIR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION AND THEN IT TURNS OUT THERE IS A LITTLE FINE PRINT THEY KEEP GETTING CHARGED $80 A MONTH AND THERE IS NOBODY TO CALL.

>> LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT BUT IT'S TIME FOR Fs AND AS.

>> FOR THE POST STANDARD RAN A STORY ON THE RECORD NUMBER OF SYRACUSE FAMILIES THAT ARE ABANDONING THEIR DOGS.

SO MUCH SO THAT MOST OF THE ANIMAL SHELTERS ARE TOO FULL TO TAKE IN MORE.

THIS APPEARS TO BE PARTLY A SPILLOVER EFFECT OF FAMILIES THAT CAN'T AFFORD THE RISING COST OF LIVING.

BUT WHATEVER IT IS, WE NEED TO GET A HANDLE ON THIS AND TAKE PREVENTATIVE METHODS.

>> JENNY, YOUR F. >> I GIVE ELON MUSK'S ROTTEN TWEETS AN F THIS WEEK.

HE PUSHED AN A.I.

GENERATED DEEP FAKE OF KAMALA HARRIS THAT VIOLATED HIS OWN PLATFORM POLICIES AND BY SUPPRESSING INFORMATION ABOUT TRUMP IN THEIR SEARCH ALGORITHM.

MUSK HAS DECRIED ELECTION INTERFERENCE BY GOOGLE BUT IT'S MUSK HURTING OUR DEMOCRACY.

>> MY F GOES TO THE FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS FOR LETTING A LOUISIANA MANUFACTURING COMPANY CONTINUE TO POLLUTE A LOW INCOME LARGELY MINORITY COMMUNITY WITH A CHEMICAL SHOWN TO CAUSE CANCER.

THIS IS A BEG SETBACK FOR THE E.P.A., WHICH IS TRYING TO FAST TRACK AND CLAMP DOWN ON AIR POLLUTION, ESPECIALLY IN THIS AREA DUBBED CANCER ALLEY BECAUSE OF ALL THE PETRI CHEMICAL AND OTHER INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS IN THE REGION.

>> TARA YOUR F. >> TO DONALD TRUMP FOR HIS RESPONSES TO THE Q&A DURING HIS APPEARANCE AT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS CONFERENCE.

AS A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF OTHER PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEES, TRUMP SEEMED SURPRISED AT THE VARIETY OF HARD HITTING QUESTIONS HE WOULD BE ASKED.

HIS BEHAVIOR FROM HIS RAISING OF THE QUOTE POWER FIST TO THE ABSURD COMMENT ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS, TRUMP CLEARLY WAS UNPREPARED AND REALLY NON-PRESIDENTIAL.

>> WHAT'S NEW.

>> HOW ABOUT YOUR A NINA?

>> TO DREAMER GLEN, A FRIEND OF MINE, AND ALSO THE OWNER OF MISS PRISSIES AND ONE OF THE ORIGINAL VENDORS AT SYRACUSE CITY MARKET.

DREAMER AND HER BUSINESS PARTNER WILL SOON OPEN THE FIRST BRICK AND MORTAR DOWNTOWN IN SYRACUSE.

THEY CREDIT THEIR SUCCESS TO THE SYRACUSE COMMUNITY, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES A $100,000 GRANT FROM ONONDAGA COUNTY UNDER EXECUTIVE RYAN McMAHON.

MISS PRISSY WILL BE THE ONLY BLACK OWNED WOMAN EATERY IN DOWNTOWN.

HERE'S TO MANY MORE, NOT JUST BECAUSE IT'S BLACK OWNED AND A WOMAN BUT BECAUSE HER MAC AND CHEESE IS OFF THE CHAIN.

>> AND JENNY.

>> SO MY A GOES TO STEPHEN NEDOROSCIK AND HIS BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE ON THE PUMMEL HORSE AT THE OLYMPICS HELPING TEAM USA EARN THE BRONZE.

HE GETS AN A FOR PROOFING NAYSAYERS WRONG.

IT IS TRUE HE ONLY HAS ONE DISCIPLINE BUT HIS FOCUS MEANT THAT HE ACHIEVED TRUE BRILLIANCE WITH HIS ROUTINE AND SHOWED HIS VISUAL IMPAIRMENT IS NOT A DISABILITY.

IT JUST MEANS HE IS DIFFERENTLY ABLED.

>> AND QUICKLY SARAH.

>> MY A GOES TO THE VIRAL SPREAD OF THE WORD WEIRD TO DESCRIBE MANY OF THE PEOPLE AND POLICIES ASSOCIATED WITH FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE MAGA MOVEMENT.

I THINK IT DOES A GREAT JOB DIRECTING ATTENTION TO MANY OF THE STRANGE AND CREEPY OBSESSIONS, POLICIES AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES EMBRACED BY MANY LEADERS OF THE MAGA MOVEMENT.

>> TARA.

>> TO DUKE UNIVERSITY WHICH STARTING IN THE FALL OF 2024 WILL OFFER CHEROKEE AS ONE OF ITS WORLD LANGUAGES.

THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A WORLD LANGUAGES MAJOR AT THE SCHOOL.

>> SOUNDS GOOD.

AT THIS FOR WATCHING TONIGHT PLEASE WRITE US FOR THOUGHTS ABOUT THESE TOPICS OR OTHERS OR SUGGEST THEM.

THE ADDRESSES ARE ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU MISS THE SHOW WHERE YOU REGULARLY WATCH, YOU CAN CATCH US ON TV FRIDAY NIGHTS AT 8:00, SATURDAY AFTERNOONS AT 5:30.

OR LOOK FOR US STREAMING ANYTIME ON WCNY'S YOU TUBE PAGE OR THE STATION'S WEBSITE AT WCNY-ORG.

BE WELL.

GOOD NIGHT.