>> SHOULD GANG MEMBERS GET PAID TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE?

DO SCHOOLS NEED A PARENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS?

AND WHY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S INTEREST IN AFRICA NOW?

WE TACKLE THESE QUESTIONS ON IVORY TOWER NEXT.

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

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M NINA MOORE OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

THE OTHER PROFESSORS HERE TO DISCUSS THIS WEEK'S NEWS ARE ANIRBAN ACHARIYA OF LEMOYNE COLLEGE, MICHAEL TILLOTSON OF SUNY CORTLAND, CHAD SPARBER OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY, TARA ROSS OF ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

AGAIN THIS WEEK THE COUNTRY IS REELING FROM A SHOCKING CRIME IN NASHVILLE TENNESSEE.

AGAIN AT THIS TABLE WE RETURN TO TALK ABOUT STRATEGIES TO REDUCE CRIME • ESPECIALLY HERE IN SYRACUSE, WHERE THE MURDER RATE IS 3 TIMES THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

MAYOR BEN WALSH'S PLAN TO FIGHT CRIME INCLUDES A FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH, EDUCATION AND JOB TRAINING, AS WELL AS A $100 TO $200 WEEKLY STIPEND TO GANG MEMBERS AS INCENTIVE FOR THEM TO NOT BREAK THE LAW AND TO GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

TARA, IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM WITH A $1 MILLION PRICE TAG THAT TARGETS ABOUT 50 GANG MEMBERS.

SHOULD THE CITY MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PLAN?

>> NOT AT THIS MOMENT, AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THIS.

WE HAVE TO TRY SOMETHING.

SO I COULD SEE TRYING THIS PROGRAM BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT NEED TO BE WORKED OUT AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERNS ME IS, OKAY, YOU ARE ONLY TALKING ABOUT 50 GANG MEMBERS.

OBVIOUSLY MORE GANG MEMBERS, THE HIGHER THIS GOES.

BUT WHEN YOU ARE ONLY TALKING ABOUT 50 GANG MEMBERS, IS THIS REALLY GOING TO BE A TRUE-- HAVE A TRUE IMPACT ON THE CRIME IN THE CITY?

THAT'S THE FIRST CONCERN IS WILL THIS JUST 50 REALLY ACHIEVE SOME MEASURABLE RESULTS WITHIN THE THREE MONTHS THAT IS PROPOSED.

THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT THE MEASURES FOR HOW DO YOU MEASURE SUCCESS ARE YOUR VAGUE AT THIS POINT.

AND WHAT THE MAYOR'S PLAN HAS INDICATED IS THAT THE MEASURES OF SUCCESS WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE PARTNERS, THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS IN TERMS OF THE MENTAL HEALTH, THE JOB TRAINING, EDUCATION PROGRAMMING, ET CETERA.

AND SO IS THE MAYOR AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE GOING TO SET THOSE MEASURES?

ARE THEY-- ARE THE VARIOUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS GOING TO SET THE MEASURES FOR THEMSELVES AND IS THREE MONTHS LONG ENOUGH TO ACHIEVE ANY MEASURABLE SUCCESS?

>> YEAH, I MIGHT ADD TO THAT ANOTHER QUESTION FOR YOU.

OTHER CITIES HAVE TRIED THIS THROUGH AN ORGANIZATION CALLED ADVANCE PEACE.

BUT IN MANY OF THOSE OTHER CITIES, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, FORT WORTH TEXAS, FRESNO AND SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, IN ALMOST ALL OF THOSE OTHER CITIES, THEY ATTACHED A SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT SUCH AS PARTICIPATING IN JOB TRAINING AND MENTAL HEALTH, REQUIRING ALSO AN ACCOUNTING OF HOW THE FUND WOULD BE UTILIZED.

DO YOU THINK THAT THIS IS LEFT TOO OPEN ENDED HERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S ANOTHER COMPONENT OF NOT AT THIS MOMENT.

THERE ARE JUST SIMPLY SEVERAL AREAS THAT NEED TO BE WORKED OUT AND CLARIFIED.

ONE OTHER CONCERN THAT I HAVE IS THAT, OKAY, YOU TRY THIS PILOT FOR THREE MONTHS.

FOR THREE MONTHS BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING PAID, THESE GANG MEMBERS DO NOT COMMIT ANY CRIMES.

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE THREE MONTHS IF YOU CAN'T COME UP WITH MORE MONEY?

>> YEAH.

>> I THINK YOU SCOOPED MY ANGLE.

>> SORRY.

>> MY KNEE JERK REACTION TO THIS WHOLE POLICY WAS HOW DO I REGISTER AS A GANG MEMBER TO GET THIS MONEY?

IT SOUNDS GREAT.

THEN YOU HAVE TO STEP BACK AND AS YOU SAID, IT HAS BEEN USED IN OTHER PLACES BEFORE.

RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA, IS THE ONE EXAMPLE THAT I TURN TO, WHERE THEY HAVE A PEACE MAKER/PEACE FELLOWS PROGRAM IN PLACE SINCE 2010 AND TO GET THE MONEY, AT RISK YOUTH NOT ONLY HAVE TO PUT DOWN THEIR WEAPONS, THEY ALSO HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY, CBT, WHICH CAN BE EFFECTIVE.

THE ACADEMIC EVIDENCE ON RICHMOND IS THAT IT MIGHT HAVE REDUCED GUN VIOLENCE THERE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT MIGHT HAVE ALSO INCREASED NON-GUN VIOLENCE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW IT'S NOT THE BEST PREVENTION TOOL.

BUT IT'S NOT AS DUMB AS THE CLICK BAIT HEADLINES SUGGEST THAT IT IS.

>> I WANTED TO JUMP IN WITH THE RICHMOND THING, A POLICE OFFICER WHO STARTED THE PROGRAM AND THEY SAW A 50% DROP IN VIOLENCE, BUT YOUR POINT TAKEN AND OTHER FORMS OF VIOLENCE MIGHT BE INCREASING.

I JUST WANT TO AGREE WITH ALL OF YOU, THE KIND OF THINKING ABOUT THE BROADER PICTURE HERE, RIGHT?

SYRACUSE.COM EXAMINED 30 TEENS CHARGED WITH 26 KILLINGS AND FOUND THIS RELENTLESS TRAUMA AND VIOLENCE CRIPPING THROUGH THE GENERATION.

HOW CAN WE HELP, ESSENTIALLY KIDS, TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.

AND A COMBINATION OF, YOU KNOW, COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY AND , YOU KNOW, JOB TRAINING AND SO ON, AND I LIKE THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE STIPEND IN RICHMOND, AS FAR AS I KNOW WAS A THOUSAND TO $2,000 A A WEEK.

>> A MONTH.

>> AND HERE IT IS 800 A MONTH TO THE MAXIMUM.

I THINK THE MONEY HERE IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, RIGHT?

IT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP THEM ALONG, BUT FURTHER QUESTIONS ARISE IF THEY GET THE MONEY, WILL THEY BE KICKED OFF FROM OTHER BENEFITS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ON?

WOULD THAT INCREASE THEIR SALARY OR WHATEVER THE INCOME AT A LEVEL WHERE THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OTHER BENEFITS?

THAT'S A QUESTION, BUT I THINK NOT CONCENTRATING ON THE GANGS FOR MONEY NARRATIVE, WHICH IS AN INCENTIVE NOT SOCIAL SCIENTIFIC WAY TO LOOK AT THINGS.

AND WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO GENERATIONS OF POVERTY, WHERE TEENS FIND THEMSELVES IN A SITUATION THAT'S NOT OF THEIR OWN CHOOSING.

>> PROBABLY AN OBLIGATION, BUT ALSO GOOD REASON TO MOVE BEYOND THE USUAL STUFF OF LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT FOCUSES ON PENALIZING AND SORT OF BACKWARD LOOKING APPROACHES.

HERE, SYRACUSE IS ACTUALLY DONE QUITE A BIT IN THAT REGARD IN TERMS OF POLICE PRESENCE.

THE POLICE OFFICERS PER CAPITA IN SYRACUSE IS GREATER THAN 90% OF OTHER DISTRICTS AND ALSO POLICE FUNDING FAR SURPASSES THAT OF AT LEAST 62% OF OTHERS.

SO SOMETHING MORE HAS TO BE DONE THAN WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN PURSUED.

MICHAEL, WHERE ARE YOU ON THIS?

>> TACKLING CRIME BY PAYING GANG MEMBERS $100 A WEEK IN MY VIEW, I'M NOT SURE IT IS GOING TO PEAK THEIR INTEREST BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE GUYS ARE HARD CORE CAPITALISTS.

THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT CITIES AND BUSINESSES FORMING PIPELINES DIRECTLY TO HIGH SCHOOLS IN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

BECAUSE FOR SOMETIME WE HAVE KNOWN THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CRIME RATES AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

LOW LEVEL CRIMES, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE RELATED TO HIGH RATES EVER YOU OF UNEMPLOYMENT.

MONEY IS SOMETIMES THE PRIMARY MOTIVATOR.

PRIMARY AND LACK MUCH FINANCIAL RESOURCES ESCALATE CRIME.

WE HAVE KNOWN THAT FOR A LONG TIME.

WHEN THE RATE OF WAGES GO DOWN, THE RATE OF CRIME AUTOMATICALLY RISES THEREFORE ECONOMIC STATUS HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON CRIME.

THE INSTITUTE OF BLACK WORLD HAS TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR DECADES.

Dr. JULIUS WILSON'S WORK, RETIRED EMERITUS PROFESSOR OF HARVARD AND SAT ON YOUR COMMITTEE, HAS WRITTEN ABOUT THIS FOR DECADES.

1987, BOOK, AND ONE IN 1980 AND WHEN WORK DISAPPEARS SPEAKS OF THE QUESTION.

NO CHILD COMES INTO THE WORLD WITH THE ASPIRATIONS OF BEING A GANG MEMBER.

THERE ARE A DOZEN REASONS WHY THIS HAPPENS.

CULTURE, RESPONSIBILITY, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT.

BUT IF WE ARE NOT INCLUDING EMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT IN THE QUESTION, THEN WE ARE NOT APPROACHING THE PROBLEM IN A SERIOUS FASHION IN MY VIEW.

>> SO WHAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE ADDED IN YOUR BACKGROUND IS MY TIME GROWING UP IN THE ROBERT TAYLOR HOMES PROJECTS OF CHICAGO TAUGHT ME THAT GANG MEMBERS CAN PULL IN ANYWHERE FROM TO TO $3,000 PER WEEK, SO WHAT IMPACT WILL THIS HAVE IN TERMS OF ININCENTIVIZING MONEY ELSEWHERE.

THE OTHER PIECE IS JOBS.

AS YOU POINTED OUT, THE YOUTH IN MY PROJECTS, WE STARTED WORKING AT 12 AND 13 YEARS OLD, NOT MAKING A LOT OF MONEY, BUT AT LEAST LEARNING JOB SKILLS, LEARNING THE VALUE OF WORK.

AND CHAD, YOU WERE GOING TO SAY WHAT?

>> BOTH OF YOU AND ANIRBAN ALLUDED TO ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF TRYING TO DECREASE CRIME.

AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE, THE BECOMING A MAN PROGRAM, B.A.M., THAT IS, AGAIN, TAUGHT WITHIN SCHOOLS AND IT'S RELATED TO COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY.

IT'S ABOUT TEACHING TEENS IMPULSE CONTROL.

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CRIME LAB HAS DONE STUDIES ON IT AND FOUND THAT IT DECREASES CRIME AND INCREASES GRADUATION RATES.

SYRACUSE HAS SOMETHING SIMILAR.

THE BUILDING MEN PROGRAM.

IF YOU KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THE THAT, VIEWERS WRITE INTO THE SHOW.

>> AND THE 100 BLACK MEN.

SO THIS WAS A GREAT DISCUSSION AND I HATE THAT WE HAVE TO GO ON, BUT WE WILL.

WHO'D THUNK IT?

PARENTAL RIGHTS IN THE CLASSROOM ARE A HOT-BUTTON ISSUE IN NATIONAL POLITICS.

THIS WEEK HOUSE REPUBLICANS PASSED A "PARENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS."

IT REQUIRES SCHOOLS TO PUBLISH TEACHING PLANS, GIVE PARENTS A LIST OF THE BOOKS AT THE SCHOOL LIBRARY, AND ALSO A SAY IN STUDENT PRIVACY POLICIES.

SUPPORTERS SAY IT BRINGS MORE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.

CRITICS INSIST THE PARENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS IS REALLY AN ATTACK ON MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.

ESPECIALLY TRANS AND LGBTQ.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF ALL OF THIS, MICHAEL.

>> SO, FOR ME, WHAT IS HIGHLY SUSPECT IS THAT PARENTS ALREADY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO MOST OF THESE THINGS IN MOST SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS, RIGHT.

THE BILL PUSHES AN AGENDA TO DISMANTLE PUBLIC EDUCATION BY CULTIVATING FEAR AND DISTRUST OF PUBLIC EDUCATION WHICH FURTHERS THEIR DESIRE TO DEFUND PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ALLOW FUNDS TO BE USED FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS, CHARTER SCHOOLS AND CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS WHICH CANS THEY'RE TRYING TO ENDORSE VOUCHERS TO SEND PUBLIC FUNDS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

THOSE WHO ARE PUSHING THE FALSE NARRATIVE ABOUT PUBLIC EDUCATION ARE ALSO USING THIS BILL AS A MEANS TO FURTHER ADAKS ON ANYTHING THAT MAKES THEM UNCOMFORTABLE.

THIS BILL IS A NOT SO SUBTLE DOG WHISTLE TO TACK THOSE THEY SEE AS OTHER.

ON MARCH 24, A REPRESENTATIVE OF OREGON WHO OFFERED AN ALTERNATIVE LEGISLATION THAT SHE ARGUED WOULD FOSTER PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT, ENCOURAGE COLLABORATION WITH EDUCATORS AND MAKE SCHOOLS WELCOMING PLACES TO ALL TYPES OF FAMILY UNITS.

AGAIN, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO SAYS GOVERNMENT SHOULD STAY OUT OF THEIR LIVES BUT HERE THEY ARE AGAIN PUSHING THEIR AGENDA THROUGH BIG GOVERNMENT.

THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THEIR HYPOCRISY.

>> SO IF WE GO WITH THAT, THAT THIS IS REALLY ABOUT REPUBLICAN IDEOLOGY, REPUBLICAN POLITICS, AND IT PASSED NARROWLY IN THE HOUSE BY A PARTY LINE VOTE, TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THE FACT THAT THEY PURSUE THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE BECAUSE IT AIN'T GOING ANYWHERE IN THE SENATE?

>> LET'S LOOK AT THE, HOW CAN I PUT THIS, THE SUCCESS OF THE IDEA OF SCHOOL CHOICE IN VIRGINIA.

WHAT THE RIGHT OR ANTIS HAVE FIGURED OUT IS TWO THINGS.

THEY CAN APPEAL TO THE EMOTION EMOTIONAL SATISFACTION OF THEIR BASE AND THEY TRY TO AGGRIEVE TO PUT IT MILDLY, SATISFACTION.

SO IT'S A WINNING FORMULA.

IT'S JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT.

>> I LARGELY TEND TO AGREE WITH YOU AFTER LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

AND I'M GOING TO KEEP THIS SHORT.

IT IS A KIND OF BACKHANDED WAY TO KIND OF LEGALIZE THE REPUBLICAN BASE'S DISCOMFORT WITH LGBTQ AND TRANS JNDER PEOPLE AND THE BILL SAYS A SCHOOL IS TO BE NOTIFIED IF A CONTRACTOR OR TEACHER CHANGES THE CHILD'S PREFERRED NAME IN THE CLASSROOM.

MY QUESTION IS WHY.

WHO IS PROTECTING THE CHILD?

IF A CHILD CHANGES A PRONOUN, MUST THE PARENTS BE NOTIFIED?

WHAT GREATER GOOD OF THE SOCIETY WOULD IT LEARN?

>> BECAUSE THEY'RE PARENTS.

>> I'M A PARENT AND I DON'T LIKE LGBTQ PEOPLE AND I DON'T LIKE TRANS GENDER PEOPLE-- TRANS GENDER PEOPLE SO I'M GOING TO FIND A WAY TO WRITE A LAW THAT WILL CREATE A JIM CROW LIKE SITUATION.

WE DON'T SAY WE DON'T LIKE PEOPLE BUT WE MAKE A LAW THAT IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR CERTAIN KINDS OF PEOPLE TO SIMPLY EXIST IN THE WAY THEY ARE.

IT BOGGLES MY MIND THAT THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT GOVERNMENT IN THEIR LIVES BUT ARE PUSHING GOVERNMENT SUPPORT TO PUSH THEIR TALIBAN AGENDA.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO CALL IT.

>> TARA?

>> I'M GOING TO PUSH BACK ON THE NOTION THAT THIS IS SOLELY ABOUT THE DISLIKE OF TRANS GENDER PEOPLE.

THERE IS A REALITY FOR PARENTS, ESPECIALLY AS CHILDREN ARE DEVELOPING, LET'S SAY YOUR CHILD IS BEGINNING TO FEEL SOME KIND OF WAY.

AND YOUR CHILD CHANGES THEIR PRONOUN OR EXPRESSES TO A TEACHER THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THEIR NAME.

AND YOU, AS THE PARENT, HAVE NOT -- DON'T KNOW THIS, OKAY.

THE REALITY IS THAT THAT TEACHER IS NOT THE ONE WHO HAS TO DEAL WITH THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF THAT.

YOU, AS THE PARENT WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF THAT.

AND IT MAY SIMPLY BE CHILDHOOD EXPLORATION THAT, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO BE CAREFUL AND NOT CALL IT A PHASE BUT WE ALL TRY OUT OUR SEXUALITY AS WE ARE MOVING ALONG.

IT COULD SIMPLY BE THAT.

OR IT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT IS MUCH MORE TRANSFORMATIVE AND LIFE TRANSFORMATIVE.

AND SO PARTIALLY AS A PARENT, THIS MAY BE PARENTS TRYING TO-- NOW WE KNOW THERE IS A REPUBLICAN AGENDA HERE, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

IT MAY BE TRYING TO REACH, FOR SOME PARENTS, A WAY OF SAYING YOU'RE THE TEACHER, SOMETIMES STUDENTS SAY THINGS TO YOU, WILL SHOW YOU THINGS THAT THEY DON'T SHOW ME, BUT I'M THE PARENT AND I'M THE ONE WHO IS GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS IN THE LONG-TERM.

>> OKAY, SO WE ARE GOING TO GET TO YOU NEXT, CHAD, I PROMISE.

BUT I DO WANT TO ASK THIS IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN EDUCATION IS CORRELATED WITH HIGHER ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.

SO, AT LEAST ON THE SURFACE IN TERMS OF THE MECHANICS OF THIS BILL, THEY WOULD HAVE TO FOSTER THAT.

SO COULD THAT ADD TO, AT LEAST THE LEGITIMATE COMPONENTS OF THIS?

MAYBE I'LL JUST PITCH THAT TO YOU, CHAD.

>> ANIRBAN'S DIATRIBE REFLECTS THAT WE CAN'T EVEN AGREE ON THE BASIC PARAMETERS.

>> I LOVE IT!

>> IS THE QUESTION THAT YOU POSED ABOUT WHETHER THIS POLICY WOULD BE EFFECTIVE AT SOLVING A PROBLEM OR IS THE QUESTION YOU POSED ABOUT WHETHER A PROBLEM EXISTS IN THE FIRST PLACE?

BECAUSE WHAT WE ARE SEEING ARE WELL DOCUMENTED AND ASTONISHING TRENDS OF DECLINES IN YOUNG PEOPLE'S SUPPORT FOR CAPITALISM, PATRIOTISM, RELIGION, HARD WORK, HAVING CHILDREN, SEXUAL IDENTITY ISSUES, YOU KNOW, FULL 5% OF ADULTS UNDER THE AGE OF 30 IDENTIFY AS A GENDER DIFFERENT FROM THEIR SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH COMPARED TO 0.3% OF ADULTS 50 OR OLDER.

NOW IF YOU DON'T THINK ANY OF THOSE ARE PROBLEMS, THEN OF COURSE THIS POLICY IS RIDICULOUS TO YOU.

BUT IF YOU CAN'T AGREE ON THOSE BASIC FOUNDATIONS, OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS ARE A PROBLEM?

>> WELL, THE THING IS, THERE IS MORE TO THIS THAN JUST LGBTQ AND TRANS ISSUES.

THERE IS ALSO THE FACT THAT PARENTS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED IF THERE IS VIOLENCE THAT TAKES PLACE.

>> A LIST OF TRANSPARENCY ISSUES.

>> BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WE ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT WHERE SHOULD THE LINE BE DRAWN BETWEEN WHAT TEACHERS ARE ABLE TO DETERMINE IN THE SCHOOL PROCESS AS TRAINED PROFESSIONALS AND WHAT SHOULD PARENTS DO.

AND I KNOW YOU WANT TO GET IN THERE, MICHAEL BUT WE NEED TO MOVE ON TO ANOTHER ONE OF OUR JUICY STORIES FOR TODAY.

VICE PRESIDENT KAMILA HARRIS KICKED OFF A TOUR TO AFRICA TO BOLSTER WHAT SHE CALLED THE AND I'M USING HER WORDS, "VERY IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP AND FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES AND THOSE WHO LIVE ON THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA."

BUT OTHERS SAY IT'S NOT ABOUT RELATIONSHIP...

IT'S ABOUT RESOURCES • SPECIFICALLY AFRICA'S RICH MINERALS.

STILL OTHERS SAY THE ADMINISTRATION'S $100 MILLION DOLLAR PLEDGE IS TO COUNTER CHINA AND RUSSIA'S INFLUENCE.

ANIRBAN, YOU ARE MORE THERE, AM I UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY?

>> SPOILER ALERT FOR CHAD AGAIN... [LAUGHTER] YOU KNOW, AS A NON-NATIONALIST OBSERVER OF INTERNATIONAL POLITICS, IF YOU READ THE NEWS AROUND THE WORLD, RIGHT, THERE ARE TWO TRENDS OF NEWS COMING OUT.

ONE IS THE AMERICAN WESTERN KIND OF JOHN BOLTON RHETORIC THAT OH YOU KNOW CHINA THERE IS A DISGRACE AND AMERICA IS A BEACON OF HOPE IN THE REGION.

FARTHEST FROM THE TRUTH.

IF YOU ASK AFRICANS, THEY SHUDDER AT WHAT AMERICANS HAVE DONE AND A HOST OF OTHER COUPS THAT HAVE HAPPENED.

IF YOU LOOK AT AFRICAN OPINION, THEY WOULD SAY THAT THEY DON'T SEE CHINA AS A SAVIOR, BUT THEY SEE CHINA AS A MUCH MORE RELIABLE AND EFFECTIVE ALLY FOR PROFIT MAKING IN AFRICA.

AND TO JUST LOOK AT THE DATA, THE WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE MUCH MORE EXTRACTIVE AMONG THE CHINESE INDUSTRIES, THE MICRODATA, ECONOMIC DATA SHOWS THAT ONLY ONE THIRD OF IT IS MINING AND ANOTHER TWO THIRD OF IT IS MOSTLY INFRASTRUCTURE AND FINANCE.

SO THERE YOU GO FOR THE DIATRIBE.

>> SO QUICKLY FOR A MUCH SHORTER DIATRIBE BECAUSE WE ARE ALMOST OUT OF TIME.

>> MOST POPULAR LIVING U.S. PRESIDENT IN AFRICA IS GEORGE W. BUSH?

WHY BECAUSE HE HAD THE PEP FAR PROGRAM SPENT $15 BHL THAT SAVED THE LIVES OF 13 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING WITH H.I.V.

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT OUR BUSINESS IN AFRICA IS, YEAH, THERE ARE NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERNS BUT THERE ARE ALSO HUMANITARIAN CONCERNS.

>> WHAT BUSINESS DO WE HAVE IN AFRICA, TARA?

>> WE ABSOLUTELY SHOULD BE IN AFRICA BUT IN A MORE CONSISTENT MANNER AND THAT'S PART OF THE FEAR OF THE AFRICANS.

WE ONLY GO TO AFRICA WHEN WE FEEL SOMEONE ELSE IS IN AFRICA AND WILL GET WHAT WE WANT.

>> THAT WAS AN EYE OPENING STORY IN 1993 PAUL JOHNSON APRIL 18 AND THE TITLE OF THE STORY WAS COLONIALISM IS BACK AND IN THE A MOMENT TOO SOON.

COLONIALISM IS BACK NOT A MOMENT TOO SOON WHERE HE FORECASTED THE INVASION OF AFRICA BECAUSE OF THE BEAUTIES IN THE SOIL OF AFRICA, USE THED TO BE GOLD AND DIAMONDS NOW IT'S COBALT THINGS THAT OPERATE YOUR SMART PHONES AND iPAD AND TABLETS.

AMERICA SEES AFRICA AS A CHARITY CASE.

CHINA AND RUSSIA SEE IT AS A BUSINESS PARTNER THEY CAN EXPLOIT NO MATTER THE COST TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

IF THE U.S. IS THINKING OF POSITIONING ITSELF AS A COUNTERCOLONIAL FORCE, THAT SHIP HAS SAILED AND I DON'T THINK THE UNITED STATES GOT THE MEMO.

>> THEY DIDN'T GET THE MEMO.

WELL, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YET ANOTHER WONDERFUL CONVERSATION.

NOW IT'S TIME TO TURN TO THE GRADE GRADEBOOK FOR OUR Fs AND As.

STARTING WITH OUR Fs AN BAN,.

>> MY F GOES TO THE CLIMATE PRESIDENT BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AS THEY PUT UP FOR AUCTION A VAST POINT OF THE GULF OF MEXICO FOR OIL AND GAS DRILLING.

THE LATEST BLOW TO JOE BIDEN'S INCREASINGLY FRAYED REPUTATION FOR DEALING WITH THE CLIMATE CRISIS.

>> CRYING CROCODILE TEARS FOR AN INDICTMENT THAT HAS NOT BEEN UNSEALED FOR GRIFTING PURPOSES, LINDSEY GRAHAM.

>> MY F TWO WEEKS AGO ON THIS PROGRAM WE PRAISED NEW YORK'S RED FLAG LAWS THAT ALLOW LOUED POLICE TO SEIZE THE WEAPONS OF A 20-YEAR-OLD WHO THREATENED TO SHOOT UP A TOPS IN MANLIUS.

TENNESSEE DOES NOT HAVE ANY SUCH LAW BUT DOES HAVE LAWS PREVENTING THE SALE OF WEAPONS TO PEOPLE LIKE THE NASHVILLE SHOOTER WHO WAS IN A DOCTOR'S CARE FOR AN EMOTIONAL DISORDER.

MY F TO TENNESSEE FOR FAILING TO ENACT RED FLAG LAWS THAT RECEIVE WIDESPREAD SUPPORT ACROSS PARTY LINES.

>> TARA.

>> RIGHT WING HOST CHARLIE KIRK FOR ASKING THE FOLLOWING QUESTION WHEN HE WAS DISCUSSING REPARATIONS ON HIS SHOW.

KIRK ASKED WHITE PEOPLE WILL RECEIVE REPARATIONS TOO?

IN ADDITION HE WONDERED IF THE SAME BLACKS WHO THINK IT IS ILLEGAL AND RACIST TO SHOW AN I.D.

WHEN THEY HAVE TO VOTE NO NOW BE READY TO PRODUCE THE SIMILAR DOCUMENTS PROVING THEY ARE THE DESCENDANTS OF SLAVE.

I DON'T EVEN NEED TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE.

>> ENOUGH SAID.

CHAD, I WANT TO GO BACK TO YOUR THOUGHTS AND JUST POINT OUT THAT THE ONONDAGA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY BILL FITZPATRICK HERE HAS REALLY LED THE WAY IN HELPING TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS A MECHANISM, A PROCESS THROUGH WHICH THOSE WHO ARE IDENTIFIED AS DANGEROUS, COULD HAVE THOSE GUNS REMOVED WITH DUE PROCESS.

SO NOW WE ARE GOING TO SWITCH OVER TO TALK ABOUT SOME GOOD NEWS.

AND WE WILL BEGIN AGAIN WITH ANIRBAN.

>> MY A GOES TO THE OWNER OF THE NEWSPAPER GUARDIAN FOR ISSUING AN APOLOGY FOR THE ROLE OF THE NEWSPAPER'S FOUNDERS HAD IN ANNOUNCING A DECADE LONG PROGRAM OF JUSTICE BASED ON ACADEMIC RESEARCH, THE SCOTT TRUST IS EXEXPECTED TO INVEST MORE THAN $12.3 MILLION WITH MILLIONS GOING SPECIFICALLY TO DESCENDANT COMMUNITIES LINKED TO THE GUARDIAN'S 19th CENTURY FOUNDERS.

>> MY A GOES TO AMERICAN TEACHERS WHO MADE IT TO ANOTHER SPRING BREAK.

THEY ARE ALL A BURCH OF HARD WORKING SOLDIERS, MY WIFE FOR TEACHING 40 GRADE.

SALUTE AND KUDOS TO THE HARD WORKING SOLDIERS, AMERICAN TEACHERS.

>> YES, SALUTE TO THEM.

CHAD.

>> YOU MIGHT RECALL THE BY THE FOR REASONS I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS THEOREM HAS NEVER BEEN PROVEN USING TRIG NOM TRIGONOMETRY, THAT IS UNTIL NEW ORLEANS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CAME ALONG AND RELEASED THEIR PROOF AT THE AMERICAN MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY.

THEY WILL NEED TO SUBMIT THEIR PAPER TO A PEER REVIEW JOURNAL.

REGARDLESS OF OUTCOME, IT IS EXCITING TO SEE YOUNG PEOPLE ENGAGED WITH MATHEMATICS.

>> PUTTING US ALL TO SHAME.

>> MY A GOES TO THE LIFE WORK OF RANDALL ROBISON, THAT'S IT FOR US TONIGHT HERE IN THE STUDI, BUT WE'D LOVE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION WITH YOU.

WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU WANT TO WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN OR SHARE IT WITH OTHERS, GO TO WCNY.ORG.

I'M NINA MOORE AND FOR ALL OF US HERE AT IVORY TOWER, GOOD NIGHT.

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