YOU POLITICAL PARTIES, BUYING VOTES AND THE CRISIS IN CUBA - THAT'S COMING UP NEXT --- ON IVORY TOWER.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M BARBARA FOUGHT, FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE NEWS OF THE WEEK ARE -- LISA DOLAK, FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY MICHAEL TILLOTSON, FROM SUNY-CORTLAND AARON STRONG, FROM HAMILTON COLLEGE AND BEN BAUGHMAN FROM GANNON UNIVERSITY PANEL, LET'S START WITH YOUR REACTIONS TO DAVID BROOKS' RECENT NEW YORK TIMES COLUMN.

HE CRITICIZES BOTH THE DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN PARTIES FOR NOT SERVING THE FUNCTION THAT THEY USED TO.

THROUGH HISTORY ONE OR THE OTHER WAS DOMINANT, BUT NOW THEY ARE MORE 50-50.

HE SAYS QUOTE NOW PARTIES ARE SEEN AS RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS THAT EXIST TO PROVIDE BELIEVERS WITH MEANING, MEMBERSHIP AND MORAL SANCTIFICATION.

BEN, ARE THE PARTIES TOO FOCUSED IN ON THEMSELVES?

>> NOT ANYMORE THAN THEY HAVE BEEN OVER THE LAST DECADE I WOULD SAY.

YES, THEY'RE FOCUSED INWARD AND SELF ABSORBED, MAINLY REINFORCED BY ALGORITHMS AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND OUR MEDIA THAT EXISTS THAT HASN'T BON TO THE WAYSIDE THAT'S BEING BACKED BY ADVERTISERS THAT NEED TO GET THE NUMBERS.

SO YOU HAVE THAT COMPONENT.

BUT THEY HAVE TO GALVANIZE THEIR BASE IN THE PRIMARIES.

THAT'S THE WAY IT'S ALWAYS BEEN.

AND THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.

BUT WE CONTINUE TO GET HIT WITH THE EMOTIONAL COMPONENT OF IT.

AND WHEN YOU ARE INTERACTING WITH SOMETHING AND IT'S EMOTIONAL TO YOU, YOU REMEMBER THAT LONG-TERM VERSUS THINGS THAT DON'T HAVE THAT IMPACT.

>> AARON, WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE PARTIES?

>> SO I TOTALLY ACTUALLY AGREE WITH BEN HERE.

I THINK THAT POLITICS HAS BECOME MEME-IFIED.

WE HAVE HAD MANY SUBSTANTIVE POLICY EVENTS IN THE LAST WEEK.

THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED WE ARE GOING TO REMOVE ALL LEAD PIPES IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS AND APOLOGIZE TO THE NATIVE AMERICAN BOARDING SCHOOLS AND THE HORRIFIC ABUSE AND WHAT DO WE SEE?

KAMALA HARRIS CALLS TRUMP A FASCIST AND TRUMP CALLS... AND J.D.

VANCE DEFENDS PETTED EATING CLAIMS.

POLITICS HAS BECOME A MEME AND WHEN YOU HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA DRIVING THE MEMES IN POLITICS, YOU GET ENFORCED TRIBALISM.

SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE BASE BUT ONE THING DAVID BROOKS IS TAPPING INTO RIGHT NOW IS IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA WORLD OF DISINFORMATION, WHERE PEOPLE ARE JUST ALIGNING THEMSELVES IN THESE ECHO CHAMBERS, POLITICS HAS BECOME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT JUST WHAT IS THE MEME OF THE DAY INSTEAD OF THE SUBSTANTIVE POLICY THAT IS ACTUALLY TAKING PLACE IN THE BACKGROUND THAT NOBODY TALKS ABOUT.

>> NOBODY TALKS ABOUT, LISA?

>> I THINK HE IS RIGHT.

I THINK THAT-- SOME OF HIS LANGUAGE, YOU TALKED ABOUT POLITICAL PARTIES SERVING AS RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION.

HE TALKS ABOUT THE POWER LIES WITH THE SO CALLED PRIESTHOOD.

MEDIA FIGURES, PODCASTS HOSTS AND ACTIVISTS.

>> NOT THE PARTY BOSSES ANYMORE.

>> NO, AND CERTAINLY NOT THE CANDIDATES SERVING AS LEADERS.

THEY'RE BEING LED AROUND BY THE BASE.

AND THEY'RE RUNNING IN FEAR FROM THE BASE.

THEY WON'T STEP OUT OF THE LINES.

AND I THINK THEY DOUBLE DOWN ON POLICIES THAT ARE NOT WIDELY POPULAR OUT OF FEAR OF OFFENDING THE BASE.

PART OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE PRIMARY SYSTEM BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO GET THROUGH THE PRIMARIES.

IT'S THE BASE WHO VOTES IN THE PRIMARIES.

AND SO OUR SYSTEM LOCKS CANDIDATES INTO THE ORTHODOXY OF THE BASE AND THEN THEY CANNOT STEP OUTSIDE THE LINES ONCE THEY GET THROUGH THAT GAUNTLET INTO THE GENERAL ELECTION LESS THEY BE PILL AREYED OR CHASED OUT OF OFFICE.

>> THE MANTRA USED TO BE YOU SPREAD OUT AFTER THE PRIMARIES TO GET TO THE GENERAL.

>> THEY CAN'T.

THAT'S ONE OF MY FRUSTRATIONS WITH THIS ELECTION, KAMALA HARRIS DIDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE GAUNTLET OF THE PRIMARIES AND SO IF SHE CAN'T DO IT THIS TIME WHEN THE OTHER SIDE POSES SUCH AN ENORMOUS AND OBVIOUS THREAT, THEN I FEEL LIKE IT'S HOPELESS.

I FEEL LIKE BROOKS IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

HE DOESN'T OFFER ANY SOLUTIONS.

I DON'T HAVE ANY SOLUTIONS.

BUT I AGREE WITH WHAT HE IS SAYING.

>> SO MAYBE MICHAEL HAS A SOLUTION.

>> WELL, I WILL SAY THIS THOUGH.

BY SOME ACCOUNTS THE POLITICAL APPETITE OF THE ELECTORATE HAS CHANGED.

SO THE POWER OF INFLUENCE MAY HAVE SHIFTED IN THE SENSE THAT THERE IS A GROWING MASS OF VOTERS WHO GRAVITATE TOWARDS BEN'S POINTS, THE DIATRIBES LACED WITH THINGS LIKE EMOTION, FEELING, OPINION, HYPOTHETICAL, SPECULATIVE CONJECTURE VERS EMPIRICALLY DRIVEN FACTUAL POLICY ANALYSIS.

LOOK AT THE PODCAST BASE FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN'T SPEAK IN COMPLETE SENTENCES, CAN'T EVEN CONJUGATE A VERB WHO HAS MASSIVE VIEWERSHIP AND MASSIVE INFLUENCE ACROSS PLATFORMS AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE LISTEN AND FACTOR THESE OPINIONS IN THEIR WORLD VIEWS IN VERY SERIOUS WAYS TO.

YOUR POINT, BARBARA, WE THINK ABOUT THE PARTY BOSS IDEA.

THAT MAY STILL WORK IN LOCALIZED OTTOMAN RACES LIKE THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO BUT THAT CONCENTRATED IN PERSON INFLUENCE MAY BE WANING IN THIS CONTEMPORARY MOMENT IN MY VIEW.

>> WHAT IS INTERESTING IS THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS CHANGED.

IF YOU LISTEN TO J.D.

VANCE'S SPEECH AT THE CONVENTION, THE FIRST HALF OF THAT COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN BERNIE SANDERS SPEAKING, RIGHT?

IT WAS ABOUT-- IT WAS A POP POP U LEWIS RHETORIC THE BIG CORPORATIONS ARE SHUTTING YOU DOWN AND YOU LISTEN TO RFK TALKING ABOUT HOW CORPORATIONS ARE POISONING US THROUGH OUR FOOD AND YOU LISTEN TO THIS AND YOU REALIZE THAT THERE IS A SHIFT.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE, YOU KNOW, MITCH McCONNELL SAYING THE MAGA-FICATION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS A PROBLEM.

IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE OVER THE NEXT FEW ELECTION CYCLE AS WE HAVE MEMEFICATION, WHERE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ENDS UP BECAUSE IT IS GOING THROUGH A SHIFT FROM THE 80s, 90s AND 2000S IN THE GEORGE W. BUSH ERA TO WHERE WE ARE NOW.

>> YOU ARE NOT SURE THE MAGA PARTY IS THE PARTY?

>> I THINK THE MAGA PARTY HAS BECOME THE WATER PARTY AND THE QUESTION IS WILL THAT LAST THROUGH SEVERAL MORE ELECTION CYCLES?

I SUSPECT IT WILL >> THE PARTIES ARE WORKING HARD TO GET-OUT-THE VOTE IN 10 DAYS.

BUT THERE'S SOME HIGH PRESSURE TECHNIQUES WITH MONEY OR INCENTIVES TO GET PEOPLE TO THE POLLS.

ELON MUSK'S POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE IS GIVING AWAY A MILLION DOLLARS TO ANYONE IN A SWING STATE THAT SIGNS HIS PETITION SUPPORTING FREE SPEECH AND GUN RIGHTS.

ALSO AN ASSOCIATION THAT HELPS PEOPLE GET LOW-COST MORTGAGES IS TELLING ITS MEMBERS THEY MUST VOTE, THEY DON'T SAY HOW-- BUT THEY MUST VOTE FOR IT COULD HAVE FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES FOR THEM.

LISA, THIS KIND OF STUFF LEGAL?

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DOESN'T EVEN SEEM TO KNOW IF IT'S LEGAL.

IT SENT MUSK A LETTER THIS WEEK THAT SAID IT MIGHT BE ILLEGAL.

>> THEY HAVE TO INVESTIGATE, RIGHT?

>> I GUESS.

ALTHOUGH DON'T THEY KNOW THE FACTS THAT YOU JUST LAID THEM OUT?

THE STATUTE IS QUITE SIMPLE.

HASN'T BEEN INTERPRETED A LOT BECAUSE, AGAIN, LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE OR IN THE LAST 10 YEARS EVEN, WE'VE GOT YOU KNOW, UNPRECEDENTED THINGS HAPPENING THAT CERTAINLY HAVEN'T BEEN LITIGATED ON A SIGNIFICANT SCALE.

ANYWAY, SO, YEAH, THE THEORY IS THAT HE IS PAYING PEOPLE TO-- IT'S ILLEGAL TO PAY PEOPLE TO REGISTER OR TO VOTE.

AND I WILL SAY THAT I THINK THAT IF MUSK'S SCHEME IS ILLEGAL, SO IS THE ONE THAT YOU SPOKE ABOUT, THE ASSOCIATION THAT IS HELPING PEOPLE GET LOW COST MORTGAGES AND SAYS THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO KICK YOU OUT OF THEIR MEMBERSHIP THIS TIME, BUT THEY ARE WATCHING TO SEE IF YOU VOTE.

WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT ANYWAY, I THINK BOTTOM LINE THOUGH DOES IT REALLY PARTY?

MUSK HASN'T TURNED BACK.

HE HAS CONTINUED TO AWARD THE MILLION DOLLARS A DAY.

>> HE TOOK A DAY OFF.

>> BUT THEN I UNDERSTAND HE GAVE $2 MILLION PRIZES YESTERDAY.

SO IT HASN'T STOPPED.

THE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF THIS STATUTE ARE QUITE-- CERTAINLY IN ELON MUSIC'S WORLD, TRIVIAL, THE D.O.J.

IS NOT GOING TO START-- EVEN IF THEY DECIDE TO PROSECUTE THEM WHICH THEY WELL MAY NOT BECAUSE THE FEDERAL PROSECUTORS DON'T PROSECUTE UNLESS THEY'VE GOT A SURE WIN.

THAT'S THE GENERAL PHILOSOPHY.

THEY CARE A LOT ABOUT THEIR SUCCESS RATE.

AND THIS IS NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR BECAUSE THE TECHNICALITY, HE SAYS, IS THAT HE IS, TO THE EXTENT HE IS PAYING PEOPLE, HE IS SIGNING PEOPLE TO SIGN A PETITION.

NOT TO VOTE, NOT TO REGISTER.

TRUE, THEY HAVE TO BE REGISTERED TO BE ELIGIBLE.

>> AND THIS IS-- OBVIOUSLY HE IS RIGHT ON THE LINE.

AND IF IT WAS DIRECTLY PAYING NEW PEOPLE TO REGISTER, LIKE YOU HAVEN'T BEEN REGISTERED BEFORE, AND HE SPECIFIED THAT, IT WOULD BE A LOT MORE CLEAR CUT.

SO THIS WHOLE-- THIS COMPONENT, THE ARGUMENT IS HE SHIFTED IT TO A JOB POSITION THAT YOU ARE GETTING PAID TO BE REGISTERED.

AND THE ARGUMENT THERE IS WHAT IF YOU SET UP FOR YOUR BUSINESS THAT HEY, ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF HIRING SOMEONE IS THAT THEY'RE REGISTERED TO VOTE BECAUSE IT WOULD LEND CREDIBILITY TO THEIR RELIABILITY.

AND THAT IS AN ARGUMENT THAT WOULD BE MADE, I THINK IN THIS CASE.

>> INTERESTING.

MICHAEL, HOW ARE YOU SEEING THIS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK ABOUT BUYING VOTES, THERE WAS A TIME WHEN MAINSTREAM POLITICAL FIGURES WOULD SHOW NEWSPAPER BLACK COMMUNITIES EVERY TWO TO FOUR YEARS WITH FRIED CHICKEN, COLLARD GREENS, BUTTERED BISCUIT AND GRAPE KOOL-AID TO BUY VOTES I.

WAS INSULTING AT THE TIME AND EFFECTIVE IN SOME QUARTERS.

IT MAKES ME THINK ABOUT THE BIPARTISAN CAMPAIGN REFORM ACT McCAIN-FINE GOLD 2001-2002 WHICH INCLUDES PROVISIONS DESIGNED TO END THE USE OF SOFT MONEY IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS KILLED BY THE CITIZENS UNITED SUPREME COURT.

NOW WE HAVE THE SOUTH AFRICAN BILLIONAIRE ON A STAGE AT A CAMPAIGN RALLY WITH A CANDIDATE HE ENDORSES, JUMPING AROUND LIKE HE IS ON A PLAYGROUND BECAUSE IN HIS MIND, THE ELECTORAL PROCESS IN AMERICA IS A PLAYGROUND FOR THE WEALTHY AND POLITICAL INFLUENCERS RUN AMOCK.

I GUESS WE WILL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DOES TO STOP SOME OF THE MADNESS, I WOULD PRESUME.

>> AARON, I WONDER IF THIS IS REALLY DIFFERENT THAN YEARS BACK WITH BRINGING THE FOOD OUT AND THE PARTY BOSSES.

>> I THINK IT IS.

I THINK REPUBLICANS HAVE TAPPED INTO THE IDEA THAT POLITICS IS MEME-FIED.

MUSK UNDERSTANDS THAT.

HE UNDERSTANDS HE WILL GET MEDIA ATTENTION FOR DOING THIS.

HE DOESN'T CARE IF IT MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT BE ILLEGAL.

HE UNDERSTANDS JOSH SHAPIRO, THE GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA IS GOING TO BE IN THE HEADLINES FOR SAYING WE SHOULD INVESTIGATE ELON ELON MUSK AND SEEM LIKE A WHINEY TATTLE TALE KID IN DOING SO RATHER THAN SAYING KAMALA HARRIS WILL HELP FIX CRUMB LING INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND THE COUNTRY.

HE UNDERSTANDS THAT'S.

THAT'S WHY HE IS DOING THIS BECAUSE IT KEEPS THE DEMOCRATS ON THE DEFENSIVE IN A REACTIONARY STANDPOINT AND PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THINGS LIKE BIG CHECKS, RIGHT?

AND SO IT SEEMS LIKE IF YOU ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS, IT MIGHT BE ILLEGAL AND IT'S AGAINST THE RULES.

AMERICANS WILL INTERPRET THAT THAT THIS IS WHINEY AND THIS GUY IS DOING AWESOME STUFF.

I THINK IT IS POLITICALLY BRILLIANT BECAUSE IT TAPS INTO WHERE OUR POLITICS ARE RIGHT NOW IN THIS MEME-FIED WORLD.

>> IT'S BRILLIANT BECAUSE SIGNING ON TO SOMETHING, YOU ARE COMMITTING YOURSELF PSYCHOLOGICALLY, HAVING PEOPLE JUST SIGN THAT PETITION ALONE IS BRILLIANT.

AND THEN IF YOU ARE INCENTIVIZED TO DO SOMETHING, YOU FEEL OBLIGATED TO RETURN THAT IN SOME WAY PSYCHOLOGICALLY.

SO HE IS PREYING UPON TWO PSYCHOLOGICAL FACETS.

>> I WONDER LISA IF MUSK THOUGHT IT MIGHT NOT BE LEGAL BUT IS DOING IT FOR ATTENTION AND AS AARON SAID, THE AGENDA SETTING.

>> AS I SAID, THE MAN HAS $ 265 BILLION LAST I LOOKED.

IT DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO HIM.

>> FINES ARE LIKE $10,000.

>> I AGREE WITH AARON THAT IT PUTS THE DEMOCRATS ON THE DEFENSIVE.

INSTEAD OF LEADING, THEY'RE BEING LED AROUND ONCE AGAIN, THIS TIME, YOU KNOW, FOLLOWING HIM.

>> I THINK THE FINE IS FOR THE PERSON THAT RECEIVES IT.

>> IT'S ILLEGAL TO PAY OR RECEIVE.

>> CORRECT.

BUT I THINK THE $10,000 FINE IS FOR THE PERSON THAT RECEIVES IT OR UP TO LIKE FIVE YEARS IN PRISON, WHICH THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN.

>> LISA, DO YOU SEE THIS DIFFERENT THAN THE OLD-- I CAN REMEMBER IN MY HOMETOWN, LITTLE HOMETOWN OF 4,000, THE PARTY LEADERS AND THE WEALTHY GUYS IN TOWN WOULD RENT OR BORROW AN APARTMENT ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE EVERYBODY VOTED AND THEY WOULD TAP OFF WHO VOTED, RIGHT?

AND IF YOU DIDN'T VOTE BY 4:00, YOU WOULD GET A CALL, WHICH WAS COERCIVE, RIGHT?

IS THIS ANY DIFFERENT?

>> YEAH, IT'S DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT INVOLVES MONEY.

THAT WASN'T-- THAT WAS ENCOURAGE MANY AND PERSUASION.

THIS IS BUYING.

I MEAN THAT'S THE ARGUMENT.

I AGREE THAT IT'S ON THE LINE.

>> LETS TURN TO OUR THIRD TOPIC, INTERNATIONAL NEWS.

LIFE IN CUBA HAS GOTTEN A LOT TOUGHER.

THE POWER GRID COLLAPSED FOR A FOURTH TIME AND A HURRICANE BLEW THROUGH, KILLING SEVEN.

THE GOVERNMENT CHOOSES DAILY WHETHER TO IMPORTS FUEL OR FOOD.

PEOPLE SAY THEY STAND IN LINE FOR EVERYTHING.

MICHAEL, WHO OR WHAT COULD HELP THIS SITUATION?

>> WELL, FOR ME, THE CUBA QUESTION IS MUCH MORE COMPLICATED THAN SOME WANT TO ADMIT, PARTICULARLY EX-PATRIOTS IN MIAMI.

IT HAS MULTILAYERS OF COMPLEXITY ATTACHED TO IT.

I THINK OF OBAMA WHEN HE TOOK THEM OFF THE SPONSORED TERRORISM LIST IN 2015 AND TRUMP HE WAS PUT BACK IN 2 IS.

THE ENERGY GRID NEEDS ATTENTION AND IT NEEDS IT NOW, RIGHT.

CUBA'S PROGRESS IS SO FRAGILE DUE TO A LACK OF INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE OF ALL KINDS NOT JUST THE POWER GRID, LACK OF ACCESS OF FUEL TO RUN THE POWER PLANTS AND LIMITED ACCESS TO THE GLOBAL MARKETS.

THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF CUBA AT SOME POINT HAS TO SIT DOWN IN GOOD TBAITH WITHOUT HUBRIS AND ASK FOR HELP FROM THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

FUL HE DOES THAT, THE BLACKOUTS WILL CONTINUE WITH OR WITHOUT NATURAL DISASTER IS ATTACH.

>> THE CONCERN ABOUT THAT, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND HISTORICALLY THAT'S WHERE THE PROBLEM LIES, 90 MILES OFFSHORE OF FLORIDA, THEY HAVE RELIED ON PREVIOUS SOVIET UNION AND VENEZUELA, WHICH IS WHY THEY WERE PART OF THE REASON WHY THEY WERE PUT ON THE LIST WAY BACK IN THE 60s, 50s.

CLINTON SIGNED IT.

SO IT'S NOT EVEN A REPUBLICAN-DEMOCRAT KIND OF THING.

IT IS THEIR MILITARY SHOT DOWN TWO PLANES OFF THE COAST OF FLORIDA AND THAT'S WHAT LED CLINTON TO SIGNING THE EMBARGO EVEN STRONGER THAN WHAT WAS ALREADY IN PLACE.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE LESSONS HERE THINKING ABOUT THAT ENERGY GRID, WHICH IS THAT WE NEED MORRELLIENS ACROSS ALL ENERGY GRIDS.

WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED WITH TEXAS.

IN THE U.S.

THERE ARE THREE ELECTRIC GRIDS.

THE EASTERN INTERCONNECT, WESTERN INTERCONNECT AND TEXAS.

THAT'S WHY WITH THE WINTER STORM, TEXAS COULDN'T GET POWER FROM OTHER POWER PLANTS ELSEWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES A FEW YEARS AGO.

CUBA HAS SUFFERED BECAUSE THEY WERE RELYING ON ONE POWER PLANT, THAT ONE WENT DOWN.

ANOTHER LESS OPEN FROM CUBA IS THAT ALL THEIR POWER IS RELIANT ON THE IMPORTATION OF FOSSIL FUELS OF OIL.

THEY RUN POWER PLANTS RUN BY OIL.

THAT'S NOT RESILIENT BECAUSE IF YOU LOSE THE FUEL COMING IN AND DON'T BRING IN ENOUGH FUEL, THEY HAVE ROLLING BLACKOUTS ALL THE TIME BECAUSE THEY CAN'T IMPORT ENOUGH FUEL.

IT'S 2024.

WE NEED AN UPDATE THE ELECTRIC GRID BUT FROM THE U.S. PERSPECTIVE, NORMALIZING RELATIONS WITH CUBA AND HAVING A VIBRANT FUNCTIONING ECONOMY 90 MILES FROM FLORIDA WOULD BE IN EVERYBODY'S BEST INTEREST.

THE CHALLENGE IS HOW DO YOU GET THERE GEOPOLITICALLY.

EVERYONE, BIPARTISAN SEEMS TO WANT.

>> WHAT ABOUT SOLAR?

>> SOLAR AND WIND ARE MORE DECENTRALIZED, RIGHT?

AND THAT ACTUALLY PROVIDES A BENEFIT ON THE GRID SO THAT YOU ARE NOT RISKING EVERYTHING SHUTTING DOWN FOR ONE ISSUE.

NOW, OF COURSE, THEIR INTERMITTENT SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS.

WE KNOW WHAT GOOD FUNCTIONING SMART GRIDS LOOK LIKE RIGHT NOW AND CUBA CERTAINLY ISN'T ONE BUT WE SHOULD LOOK AT HOW OUR GRIDS ARE FUNCTIONING IN THE U.S., TOO.

>> LISA, WHAT ABOUT THE TRADE EMBARGO?

THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT SAYS IT'S THE UNITED STATES FAULT BECAUSE OF THE TRADE EMBARGO.

SHOULD WE LIFT THAT?

>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION LIFTED SOME OF THE SANCTIONS, NOT ON STATE ACTORS BUT ON PRIVATE ACTORS, BANKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, JUST THIS YEAR.

I THINK NOT.

I MEAN CUBA HAS TO-- THE PEOPLE ARE THE VICTIMS OF THEIR GOVERNMENT WHICH IS SO OFTEN THE CASE AROUND THE WORLD.

AND THE UNITED STATES YOU KNOW, HASN'T FULLY REBUILT THE GRID IN PUERTO RICO WHICH ARE OUR CITIZENS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE IS SUCH A THING AS-- AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO THINK ABOUT BUT THERE ARE THINGS SUCH AS GEOPOLITICAL ALLIES AND ENEMIES AND THERE IS A LIMIT ON WHAT THE UNITED STATES CAN DO, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO A COUNTRY LIKE CUBA.

>> MICHAEL, WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE SOME CHANGE?

NOTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE ELECTION FOR SURE.

>> I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE MASTER NARRATIVE ABOUT CUBA BECAUSE THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE THAT HAVE FIDEL CASTRO RUNNING IN THEIR HEAD.

A LOT OF PEOPLE IN CUBA WANT TO SIT DOWN IN GOOD FAITH BUT THE MASTER NARRATIVE PREVENTS THEM FROM GETTING POPULAR SUPPORT TO SOME DEGREE.

I THINK THE NARRATIVE HAS TO SHIFT IN THE MODERN WORLD IN CUBA.

YOU GO TO MIAMI, YOU STILL SEE PEOPLE FIDEL, FIDEL.

NOT SO MUCH.

>> THAT PAIRED WITH THE FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT'S LAST NAME IS ALSO THAT SAME LAST NAME, AND THE COMMUNIST PARTY, LIKE IT'S LITERALLY CALLED THE COMMUNIST PARTY.

SO THERE IS THAT CONCERN THAT YOU ARE GOING TO ALIGN YOURSELF WITH SOMEBODY THAT, LIKE RUSSIA, THAT IS INVADING ANOTHER COUNTRY AS WE SPEAK.

>> SURE BUT WE HAVE MUCH BETTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH VIETNAM WHICH IS STILL RUN BY COMMUNISTS, RIGHT?

IT'S JUST PICKING ON THE SORT OF COLD WAR EAR A. I REALIZE IT'S COMPLICATED TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS BUT IT'S HYPOCRITICAL FOR THE U.S. TO SAY WE CAN'T NORMALIZE RELATIONSHIP WITH CUBA BECAUSE THEY'RE COMMUNISTS BUT WE ARE DOING THINGS WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE SUSPECT IN HOW THEY RUN THEIR COUNTRIES.

>> IS THERE ANY PUBLIC WILL TO HELP CUBA?

>> I DON'T THINK IN THIS CURRENT CLIMATE, THE WHOLE NARRATIVE OF THIS ELECTION IS THAT WE ARE NOT GOING ENOUGH FOR OUR OWN PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S A VERY NATIONAL-- HALF THE COUNTRY HAS A VERY NATIONALISTIC VIEW.

>> REAL QUICK BECAUSE WE DID NORMALIZE BACK IN 2017 WITH OBAMA, AND WE HAD AN EMBASSY THERE WHERE OUR INTELLIGENCE UNITS AND PEOPLE THERE, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEY WERE GETTING SICK BY MYSTERIOUS ILLNESS AND WE HAD TO WITHDRAW.

>> WELL, WE WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT.

TIME TO OPEN UP THE GRADEBOOK, LISA, YOUR F. >> MY F GOSS RUSSIA'S ONGOING INTERFERENCE WITH THE U.S. ELECTION INCLUDING ITS PROMOTION AND PROPAGATION OF DISINFORMATION ABOUT U.S. GOVERNMENT RELIEF EFFORTS IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANES HE LINE AND MILTON.

ANALYSIS OF POSTS BY RUSSIAN STATE MEDIA ACCOUNTS AND CREME LIN BACKED ACTORS SHOW THE POSTS ARE ADVANCING NARRATIVES SEEKING TO DEEPEN POLITICAL DIVISIONS IN THIS COUNTRY AND UNDERMINE SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE BY PORTRAYING THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION IS INCOMPETENT AND IRRESPONSIBLY PRIORITIZING UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS AND THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE OVER THE NEEDS OF U.S. CITIZENS.

>> MICHAEL.

>> MY F GOES TO HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON NOT RECONVENING CONGRESS AHEAD OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION TO APPROVE A DISASTER RELIEF PACKAGE IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANES HELENE AND MILTON.

>> AARON.

>> MY F GOES TO McDONALD'S AND NO, NOT BECAUSE OF DONALD TRUMP'S ANTICS COOKING AND SERVING FRIES AT ONE LOCATION IN PENNSYLVANIA BUT FOR THE NATIONWIDE E-COLI LINKED TO THE McDONALD'S QUARTER POUNDERS.

WE DON'T KNOW IF IT IS THE BEEF OR THE ONIONS THAT IS MAKING PEOPLE SICK AND LED TO ONE DEATH.

>> BEN.

>> MY F IS GOING TO PEOPLE PUSHING MISINFORMATION AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES BY PEOPLE THAT HAVE POWER AND INFLUENCE OVER MANY OTHERS.

EXAMPLES SUCH AS CONTROLLING THE GOVERNMENT CONTROLLING THE WEATHER AND CONFISCATING LAND, PUT FEMA PEOPLE IN DANGER JUST IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

SO, YOU KNOW, WITH POLICE ARRESTING SOMEBODY SAYING THAT HE IS GOING TO GO HUNT DOWN FEMA BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS, IT'S GETTING VERY DANGEROUS.

HE HAD A RIFLE, GUNS ON HIM.

THIS IS GETTING OUT OF CONTROL.

>> LET'S OPEN UP THE A GRADEBOOK, LISA SOMEBODY HAS DONE SOMETHING WELL.

>> IN 1973, TWO YOUNG WOMEN LIVING AND WORKING IN NEW YORK CITY WHILE PREPARING FOR ADMISSION TO THE NEW YORK BAR STEPPED INTO ANOTHER KIND OF BAR AT THE HOTEL AND TO THEIR SURPRISE THEY WERE REFUSED SERVICE BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE HOTEL'S MANAGER, THE HOTEL PIERRE DOES NOT SERVE WOMEN UNESCORTED AT THE BAR.

THE NEXT DAY THEY COMPLAINED TO THE CITY'S COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS WHOSE FINDING OF SEX DISCRIMINATION WAS SUBSEQUENTLY UPHELD BY THE STATE SUPREME COURT.

LAST NIGHT, THEY RETURNED TO THE PIERRE FOR A TOAST CELEBRATING THEIR VICTORY, DRINKS ON THE HOUSE AND TONIGHT THEY GET MY A BECAUSE THEY DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> VERY INTERESTING.

I DID NOT KNOW THIS STORY.

>> 1973.

>> WOW.

MICHAEL.

>> MY A GOES TO THE BIDEN AND HARRIS ADMINISTRATION FOR ANNOUNCING THE FINAL REGULATIONS AND 2.6 BILLION IN INVESTMENT FOR CLEAN DRINKING WATER.

AND THE REMOVAL OF LEAD PIPING SYSTEMS IN AMERICA.

I'M SENSITIVE BECAUSE OF THE CHILDREN OF FLINT MICHIGAN AND OTHER PLACES WHOSE LIVES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED BY CANCEROUS TUMORS.

>> WE ARE HAVING ISSUES IN SYRACUSE.

THE TESTS HAVE DIFFERED SOME BUT IT COULD BE A PROBLEM HERE.

>> AARON,.

>> THANK YOU MICHAEL FOR BRINGING UP GOOD THINGS THAT THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION ARE DOING FOR CLEAN DRINKING WATER.

MY A GOES TO OFFSHORE WIND IN NEW YORK THAT TOOK A GIANT LEAP FORWARD.

THEY FINALIZED THE IMPACT STATEMENT BASICALLY THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FOR A WIDE SET OF LEASE AREAS SOUTH OF LONG ISLAND AND EAST OF NEW JERSEY, THEY FOUND MINIMAL IMPACTS ON MARINE LIFE ARE LIKELY, FINALIZING THIS ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW IS A KEY STEP IN THE PERMITTING PROCESS THAT WILL LEAD TO A NON-FOSSIL FUEL BASED MORE RESILIENT ELECTRIC GRID FOR US HERE IN THE NORTHEAST IN THE FUTURE.

>> SO A COUPLE MORE STEPS UNTIL IT'S FINALIZED.

>> THEY'RE SOUTH OF MANUFACTURE RIGHT NOW IN MASSACHUSETTS AND COMING TO NEW YORK, A FEW MORE STEPS BUT THIS IS A BIG HURDLE.

>> GOOD.

BEN.

>> MY A GOES TO THE RESPONSE OF THE RALEIGH POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE WAKE OF THE HURRICANE HELENE THAT JUST STRUCK A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND HELPING WITH THE WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY THAT LOST ALMOST 100 LIVES.

150 RALEIGH POLICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES VOLUNTEERED TO GO TO BLACK MOUNTAIN TO ASSIST WITH THE RECOVERY, CHECKING ON WELFARE AND 79 OF THOSE WERE POLICE OFFICERS THAT WENT UP THERE FOR MANY DAYS.

>> DO I REMEMBER YOU WORKED ON THE RALEIGH FORCE?

>> I DID, YEAH, SO I MAY BE IN THE LOOP ON WHAT THEY'RE UP TO.

>> THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

BEFORE WE SIGN OFF I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IVORY TOWER IS GOING ON-THE-ROAD TO ANOTHER COLLEGE CAMPUS-- SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

AND YOU ARE INVITED TO COME WATCH.

WE'RE RECORDING NEXT WEEK'S SHOW ON WEDNESDAY EVENING AT NEWHOUSE 3 ON THE S.U.

CAMPUS.

IT'S ON WAVERLY BETWEEN UNIVERSITY AND CROUSE AVENUES.

THERE'S A GARAGE AND STREET PARKING IN THE AREA.

AGAIN, THAT'S NEXT AT NEWHOUSE 3 ON WAVERLY AVE. AND IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS ABOUT THIS SHOW --- WRITE ANY OF THE ADDRESSES ON THE SCREEN.

REMEMBER YOU CAN WATCH US ON TV FRIDAY NIGHTS AT 8 AND SATURDAY AFTERNOONS AT 5:30.

OR STREAM US ON WCNY'S YOU TUBE PAGE OR ITS WEBSITE.

BE WELL AND GOOD NIGHT.