>> COMING UP ON "IVORY TOWER" A SENATE CANDIDATE IS OUT BUT, WHY NOW AND WHAT'S NEXT?

ALSO TONIGHT A LOOK AT THE BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP DECISION AND THE PRESIDENT GOES TO BAT AT THE WORLD CUP.

STAY TUNED.

THE PROFESSORS ARE NEXT.

THIS PROGRAM IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE MEMBERS OF WCNY.

THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.

WELCOME TO "IVORY TOWER".

WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE WITH US.

I'M NINA MOORE OF COLGATE UNIVERSITY.

AROUND THE TABLE TONIGHT THE PROFESSORS.

SARAH PRALLE OF SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY ANIRBAN ACHRYA OF LEMOYNE COLLEGE RICK FENNER OF UTICA UNIVERSITY.

THE CANDIDATE DEMOCRATS CHOSE TO RUN FOR THE SENATE SEAT IN MAINE WAS TARNISHED WELL BEFORE RAPE ALLEGATIONS SURFACED LAST WEEK.

IT WAS KNOWN FOR MONTHS THAT HE ONCE SPORTED A NAZI TATTOO.

THAT HE WAS ACCUSED OF SEXTING OTHER WOMEN WHILE MARRIED.

AND MORE.

SO WHY DID DEMOCRAT LEADERS SUDDENLY FIND HIM UNSUITABLE THIS WEEK?

ISN'T IT ARGUABLE THAT HE WAS NEVER SUITED TO RUN FOR A U.S.

SENATE SEAT?

>> WELL, WHERE IS THE BAR?

HE HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF RAPE.

BUT WE KNOW THAT JURY FOUND DONALD TRUMP LIABLE FOR SEXUALLY ABUSEING CAROL.

PLATNER HAS A NAZI TOON TOO.

WE DON'T KNOW IF TRUMP HAS QUESTIONABLE INK EXCEPT THE INK HE USED TO SIGN JEFFREY EPSTEIN'S BIRTHDAY CARD.

AND THERE IS TRUMP'S ACCESS HOLLYWOOD TAPE AND THE MONEY HE PAID TO A PORN STAR STORMY DANIELS.

MAYBE HE ISN'T QUALIFIED TO BE A SENATOR BUT IT APPEARS HE PASSES THE QUALIFICATION TO QUALIFY FOR BEING PRESIDENT.

BUT IN MORE SERIOUSLY, I THINK THE REASON DEMOCRATS WAITED SO LONG WAS THAT HE WAS WINNING IN THE POLLS AND SHOWED THAT PERHAPS HE COULD UNSEAT SUSAN COLLINS.

AN EXAMPLE OF THE ENDS JUSTIFYING THE MEANS.

>> SARAH, DO THE ENDS JUSTIFY THE MEANS?

>> WELL, I MEAN GOING TO WHAT RICK SAID, FOLLOWING UP ON THAT A LITTLE BIT IS THAT PEOPLE ON THE GROUND WHO WERE IN MAINE WATCHING HIM, JOURNALISTS WHO WENT TO SOME OF HIS RALLIES, YOU KNOW, DID TALK ABOUT THE ENTHUSIASM AT THE GRASSROOTS, ABOUT PEOPLE WERE VERY MOTIVATED.

HE WAS VERY CHARISMATIC.

THERE WERE A LOT OF PLUSES ON HIS SIDE.

IT'S PEOPLE WANT SOMETHING NEW, FRESH, OUTSIDE WITH AN ECONOMIC POPULISM MESSAGE AND HE WAS ABLE TO DELIVER THAT AND ENERGIZE THE VOTERS LIKE OTHER CANDIDATES HAVE NOT.

NOW I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT SHOULDN'T BE WEIGHED AGAINST HIS VARIOUS TRANSGRESSIONS WHICH ARE VERY SERIOUS, AND IT DID HAVE AN EFFECT.

OKAY, PEOPLE'S SUPPORT DROPPED.

INDEPENDENTS WENT FROM 13% POSITIVE TO 2% IN JUNE.

SO HIS SUPPORT WAS SOFTENING LF THESE MOST RECENT ALLEGATIONS.

AND I GUESS I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT PEOPLE LIKE A REDEMPTION STORY, SO THE INITIAL SCANDALS ABOUT THE NAZI TATTOO, ABOUT SOME OF THE SEXING, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HELD THEIR NOSE A LITTLE BIT AND HE GAVE A REDEMPTION STORY ABOUT HOW HE WAS VERY TROUBLED.

HE HAD PTSD FROM HIS TIME IN THE SERVICE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF FORGIVENESS AROUND THAT.

AND I THINK THIS OBVIOUSLY CROSSED THE LINE, AS IT SHOULD HAVE.

THIS LATEST SCANDAL.

>> A LITTLE BIT OF FORGIVENESS, BUT ANIRBAN, COULD WE SEE A LITTLE BIT OF HYPOCRISY, ALSO IN THAT THERE WERE WOMEN WHO ON COME OUT, BESIDE THIS WOMAN, WHO MADE ALLEGATIONS THAT WERE TROUBLING.

WHY DID DEMOCRAT LEADERS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT HIM?

>> NO, THIS IS A GOOD QUESTION.

LIKE I THINK, LOOK, I THINK THAT THE PROGRESSIVE PART OF THE SPECTRUM, THE POLITICIANS AND SUPPORTERS WERE SO DESPERATE TO HAVE A WHITE GUY WHO KIND OF REPRESENTS THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT BECAUSE IN THE LARGER SENSE OF THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT, YOU SEE GENERALLY PEOPLE OF COLOR, RIGHT?

SO THIS WAS THEIR WHITE GUY WHO IS GOING TO SAY THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE SAID AND THEY WERE VERY ENAMOURED BY THIS.

HE WAS ONE OF THE UNICORNS.

SO THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD, YOU KNOW, WHITE WASH THE REST OF THE STUFF, AND TO BE FAIR, INITIALLY THE REPORTING THAT CAME OUT, IT WAS NOT AS STARK, RIGHT?

THERE WERE MOMENTS WHERE THE REPORTING THE WOMEN SAID, MANY OF THEM SAID THEY HAVE A NET POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM AS A BOYFRIEND AND SO ON, BUT WHEN THIS CAME OUT, WHEN THIS PERSON IS LITERALLY SAYING NAT HE CAME INTO MY HOUSE UNINVITED AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTED ME, THAT'S A STARKNESS THAT YOU CANNOT WALK AWAY FROM.

SO I THINK THE DEMOCRATS INITIALLY FELT THAT, OH YOU KNOW, WE NEED THIS GUY.

BUT NOW THEY CAN'T BACK HIM UP.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO BACK HIM UP.

>> SURE.

CAN I ASK A SOMEWHAT TOUGH QUESTION THAT IS PROBABLY POLITICALLY INCORRECT.

HAVE DEMOCRATS GOTTEN CAUGHT IN THE FRAP OF BELIEF WOMEN IN THIS CASE?

BECAUSE HAD THEY BELIEVED THE PREVIOUS WOMEN, HIS WHITENESS WOULD NOT HAVE OVERRUN THAT?

BUT THE OTHER THING?

-- CAN I SAY THE OTHER THING HERE IS THESE ARE ALLEGATIONS AT THIS POINT.

THERE HAS BEEN NO CHARGING, NO PROSECUTION, NO CONVICTION WHAT ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THEY BELIEVED EVERYTHING PLATNER SAID AND EVERY TIME ONE OF THESE ALLEGATIONS CAME UP, THEY SAID NOW TELL US, IS THERE ANYTHING MORE THAT COULD POSSIBLE BY COME?

AND HE SAID NO.

EVERY TYPE.

SO THERE IS A LOSS OF TRUST, I THINK, THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE SEEN IN PLATNER.

AND THERE WAS NO VETTING OF THE STORIES BECAUSE SOME OF THESE THINGS THEY DO HAVE FOUND OUT MORE OF THE DETAILS.

I BELIEVE HIS WIFE TRIED TO WARN THEM.

THERE WERE A LOT OF RED FLAGS THAT THEY JUST TOTALLY IGNORED.

>> OKAY, SO MOVING THE CONVERSATION FORWARD, SARAH, WHAT ABOUT THE POTENTIAL REPLACEMENTS FOR HIM?

HOW DOES THE VETTING PROCESS RUN THE FULL COURSE WITHIN JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS?

THEY HAVE UNTIL JULY 27.

WHAT SHOULD THAT REPLACEMENT PROCESS LOOK LIKE?

>> I THINK THE DEMOCRATS RIGHTLY , ITSELF MAINE DEMOCRATIC PARTY RIGHTLY KNOWS THEY CAN'T JUST ANOINT SOMEONE AND PUT THEM IN THERE.

THERE HAS SOMEBODY TO KIND OF PROCESS THAT INVOLVES, IF NOT THE VOTERS, LEAST REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

SO THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT A POTENTIAL PSEUDO CONVENTION OF AROUND 600 DIFFERENT OFFICIALS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

TO TRY TO CREATE A LITTLE MORE TRUST AND BUY-IN FROM THE VOTERS.

AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

THEY DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME OBVIOUSLY.

SUSAN COLLINS IS A HARD PERSON TO BEAT.

SHE HAS WON FOUR REELECTIONS DURING DEMOCRATIC WAVE ELECTIONS YOU KNOW, SHE-- MAINE IS A STATE THAT DOES SPLIT TICKETS SO IT'S VERY UNUSUAL THESE DAYS.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEY VOTE FOR A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT BUT THEY WILL RE-ELECT SUSAN COLLINS BY OFTEN TIMES VERY LARGE MARGINS.

AND PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE, IN MAINE, A LOT OF POLITICS ARE LOCAL.

IT'S A SMALL STATE.

YOU CAN DO RETAIL POLITICS.

SUSAN COLLINS SHOWS UP EVERYWHERE.

SHE BRINGS A LOT OF MONEY HOME TO MAINE.

AND SO THE NATIONAL POLITICAL SCENE JUST DOESN'T IMPACT MAINE AS MUCH.

AND SHE JUST HAS A LOT OF SUPPORT AND INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT.

AND SHE HAS DONE A LOT OF THE HARD WORK TO GET THE MAINE PEOPLE TO SUPPORT HER.

>> AGREE, SHE HAS GOT ALSO 10 MILLION CASH IN THE BANK RIGHT NOW.

VERY, VERY QUICKLY, ANIRBAN, IS THERE AN ISSUE WITH THE FOLKS WHO ARE IN THE PIPELINE, RIGHT?

ONE DESCRIBES HIMSELF AS A PROGRESSIVE PICKUP PERSON.

SHOULD DEMOCRATS CONTINUE TO PUSH THE PROGRESSIVES OR SHOULD THEY GO WITH KNOWN CANDIDATES, ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATES?

I KNOW THAT'S A LONG QUESTION BUT YOUR ANSWER HAS TO BE QUICK.

>> THE QUICK ANSWER IS THE GROUND GAME PLATNER DEVELOPED ACROSS MAINE AND ALL COUNTIES, THAT'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY, RIGHT?

THERE IS AN ENERGIZED BASE THAT IS PROGRESSIVE SO THEY'RE GOING TO SHOW UP FOR THESE MEETINGS FOR THIS PARTICULAR CONVENTION.

AND THEN THEY WILL CHOOSE ACCORDING TO THEM, RIGHT?

>> AND IN TWO WEEKS WE WILL SEE WHAT THE RESULTS ARE.

THE SUPREME COURT HAS STRUCK DOWN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S EXECUTIVE ORDER TO END BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP.

THE COURT HELD THAT CHILDREN BORN TO PARENTS WHO ARE IN THE UNITED STATES UNLAWFULLY THOSE CHILDREN ARE CITIZENS AT BIRTH.

CONSERVATIVES SAY THE RULING ENCOURAGES SO-CALLED BIRTH TOURISM.

HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON AND THE PRESIDENT INSIST THAT CONGRESS MUST NOW END BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP.

SARAH, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS SO CALLED BIRTH TOURISM PROBLEM?

>> WELL, IT'S NOT REALLY A PROBLEM.

THAT'S MY-- THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SAY.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS VERY TYPICAL OF THE COURT AND ALSO OF REPUBLICANS IS TO BLOW UP SOMETHING THAT IS NOT REALLY A PROBLEM.

OUT OF THE 360 MILLION OR SO BIRTHS IN THE UNITED STATES IN 2023, ABOUT 9,000 OF THEM WERE BY WOMEN WHO CAME HERE SPECIFICALLY TO HAVE THEIR CHILD HERE TO GET THEM CITIZENSHIP.

THAT'S AN ESTIMATE.

THESE THINGS ARE HARD TO ESTIMATE, RIGHT?

BUT THAT'S A DROP IN THE BUCKET OBJECT OBVIOUSLY.

THEIR GOALS ARE MUCH BIGGER THAN THAT.

THEY'RE NOT JUST TRYING TO PREVENT THAT.

THEY WANT TO GET RID OF PEOPLE HERE WHO WERE BORN TO ILLEGAL-- UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS, BOTH THEIR MOTHER AND FATHER.

SO IN FACT, ONE OF THE CONCURRING OPINIONS EVEN SUGGESTED THAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD HAVE THE POWER TO REVOKE CITIZENSHIP FOR PEOPLE WHO HAD GOTTEN THEIR BIRTH RIGHT CITIZENSHIP UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES SO IT'S NOT EVEN JUST GOING FORWARD.

IT'S GOING BACKWARDS.

AND THAT'S COMPLETELY UNDERMINES THE MEANING OF THE 14th AMENDMENT AND OUR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING EQUAL UNIVERSAL CITIZENSHIP.

>> AND THAT IS PARTLY WHY, RICK, SOME FOLKS ON THE RIGHT WANT TO AMEND THE 14th AMENDMENT TO MAKE EXPLICIT THAT THERE ISN'T A RIGHT TO CITIZENSHIP JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE IS BORN HERE.

>> GO AHEAD.

I THINK THE BATTLE TO TRY TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION ON THIS WILL PROBABLY FAIL AND WILL BE A LONG, LONG BATTLE.

I JUST WANT TO BRING UP A COUPLE OF SPECIFICS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE C.E.O.-- THE CURRENT C.E.O.S OF GOOGLE, ININDIVIDUALIA, MUSK TESLA CHOBANI.

THESE ARE ALL PEOPLE WHO ARE CITIZENS BECAUSE OF THE BIRTH RIGHT CITIZENSHIP.

MARCO RUBIO, CASH PATEL, NIKKI HALEY, ALSO CITIZENS BECAUSE OF THIS.

SO YOU KNOW, I THINK GOING BACK AND LOOKING AT SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BENEFITED FROM THIS, I HOPE THAT THEY COME OUT AND SAY, YOU KNOW,SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING SAID, THIS BIRTH TOURISM THING THAT ALL THESE IMMIGRANTS ARE A DRG ON OUR SOCIETY, I THINK THEY COME FORWARD-- I HOPE THEY COME FORWARD AND START TO QUESTION THIS.

WHAT I SAY TO THAT IS DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH.

SO, AS SARAH SAID, THIS IS EXCEEDINGLY RARE, ANIRBAN, THAT AT BEST, FEWER THAN 20,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECTED BY THIS AND YET IT IS SCUTCH SUCH A BIG DEAL.

WHY IS THAT?

WHY ARE CONSERVATIVES MAKING SUCH BIG HAY ABOUT THIS?

>> I THINK IT'S RACISM.

IF YOU WANT TO HASH IT BEYOND THAT, LOOK, LIKE I JUST WANT TO SEE THE DATA.

HOW MANY OF THESE BIRTH RIGHT CITIZENSHIPS ARE HAPPENING AND FOR HOW LONG AND HOW MANY KIDS ARE BORN AND WHO ARE THEIR PARENTS?

WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY DATA FOR THAT.

HAVE I NOT SEEN ANY CONSISTENT GOOD DATA ABOUT THIS.

SO WHY ARE THEY ANGRY ABOUT THIS?

I DON'T KNOW.

THEY DON'T WANT THE COUNTRY TO BECOME MORE DIVERSE, I SUPPOSE.

THAT MAY BE ONE OF THE REASONS.

OTHER REASONS IS, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST WANT TO TEST THIS OUT IN THE COURTS AND SEE HOW FAR THEY CAN GO WITH THIS AND LOOK, IT ULTIMATELY CAME OUT TO A 5-4, 6-3 DECISION WHICH MEANS IN FUTURE IF SOME OF THE JUSTICES RETIRE, IT COULD ACTUALLY REVERSE, RIGHT?

THEY MAY NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ROUTE AND ACTUALLY THEY CAN HAVE A SUPREME COURT THAT IS FAVORABLE TO THIS, CLARENCE THOMAS SAID THIS HIMSELF.

AND THAT MIGHT CHANGE THINGS.

THAT WOULD BE DISASTROUS FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY KIDS WOULD LOSE THEIR CITIZENSHIP?

>> HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS WOULD BECOME STATELESS.

>> I THINK ANGIE BROWN JACKSON CLEARLY SAID THIS WILL CREATE A SECONDARY CLASS OF CITIZENSHIP.

SHE USES THE WORD CASTE, VERY SPECIFICALLY IN HER OPINION, AND THAT IS TERRIBLE TO HAVE A WHOLE DIFFERENT CASTE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSIDERED TO BE SUBCITIZENS OR THEY WILL PAY TAXES, DO EVERYTHING BUT THEY WILL NOT HAVE ANY RIGHT AS CITIZENS.

>> OR THEY WOULD BE REMOVED.

AND SO, RICK, IS IT THE CASE THAT PART OF THE REASON CONSERVATIVES ARE PUSHING THIS, DESPITE THE LIKELY CONSEQUENCES IS THAT THIS IS OF A PIECE WITH PUBLIC OPINION THAT WAS PARTLY WHY TRUMP WAS RE-ELECTED IN 2024 AND SO WHATEVER THE ANIMUS IS, PEOPLE WANT SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IMMIGRATION.

IS THIS PART OF THAT?

>> DEFINITELY.

THIS IS VERY CONSISTENT.

THE WORDS ON STATUE OF LIBERTY, GIVE ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR, YOUR HUDDLED PASSES.

-- HUDDLED MASSES.

THAT ALL SOUNDS GOOD BUT THROUGH THE AGES WE HAVE A VERY STRONG ANTI-IMMIGRATION FEELING.

WHEN ITALIANS AND IRISH CAME TO THIS COUNTRY, IT WASN'T WITH-- WE DIDN'T HAVE OUR ARMS OPEN.

WE COMPLAINED ABOUT THEM.

THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THAT AND WE ARE SEEING IT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD NOW, THAT PEOPLE THINK THAT IMMIGRANTS BY AND LARGE ARE A DRAG ON OUR ECONOMY AND OUR SOCIETY, DESPITE THE RESEARCH THAT SUGGESTS OTHERWISE.

>> I'M NOT SURE THE POLLING REALLY SUPPORTS THAT.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE BORDER, RIGHT?

AND ABOUT PEOPLE COMING IN ILLEGALLY.

BUT THERE IS BROAD SUPPORT IN MORE GENERAL WAYS AND POLLS FOR IMMIGRANTS.

AND I THINK THERE IS A SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE WITHOUT DOCUMENTATION, A PROCESS SO THEY CAN BECOME LEGAL CITIZENS.

>> A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP.

I WILL ASK THIS TO THE TABLE.

WE ARE ACTUALLY OUT OF TIME.

BUT WHAT THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO HAPPEN NOW IS FOR CONGRESS TO LEGISLATIVELY END BIRTH RIGHT CITIZENSHIP.

YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT?

>> I THINK THE RULING WAS IMPORTANT, THAT IT WASN'T JUST RULING ON THE FEDERAL LAW.

IT WAS RULING ON THE CONSTITUTION.

SO, AGAIN, UNLESS WE HAVE UNSEATING OF SOME OF THE LIBERAL JUSTICES, THE BAR IS GOING TO BE VERY HIGH.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION.

>> OKAY.

SO A CONSERVATIVE COURT HAS ESSENTIALLY DONE A LIBERAL THING, RIGHT?

OKAY, MOVING ON.

NOW THAT THE DUST HAS SETTLED, LET'S ASSESS.

WAS IT REALLY SO WRONG FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO GO TO BAT FOR THE AMERICAN TEAM IN THE WORLD CUP?

HE'S NOT THE FIRST HEAD OF STATE TO DO SO.

AND THAT RED CARD SUSPENSION THAT STARTED IT ALL?

WELL.

IT WAS QUESTIONABLE TO BEGIN WITH.

QUITE A FEW LETTERS PUBLISHED IN THE WASHINGTON POST SAY IT WAS A PROBLEM.

THAT IT WAS UNFAIR TO SOCCER FANS.

ANIRBAN, DO YOU AGREE?

>> SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE PARTICULAR INCIDENT, YES.

IT WAS A CONTROVERSIAL RED CARD.

IT CAME OUT FROM THE VIDEO AND IT SEEMED LIKE HE HAD LANDED ON THE FEET OF THE DEFENDER, BUT IT WAS NOT INTENTIONAL.

SO ON THE WHOLE ONE CAN MAKE AN ARGUMENT THAT YES, THIS WAS A CONTROVERSIAL RED CARD, BUT HERE IS THE THING.

LIKE THE BELGIAN DELEGATION GOT FURIOUS AND SAID THAT AT EVERY TEAM MEETING AND ALL OTHER CIRCULARS, YOU TELL US REPEATEDLY THAT THESE KINDS OF RED CARDS CANNOT BE REVOKED, THEY CANNOT BE OVERTURNED BY ANYONE.

IT'S A FINAL THING AND YET YOU ARE DOING THIS.

BUT THEN FIFA SAID LOOK, WE HAVE ARTICLE 27.

ARTICLE 27 CAN OVERTURN ANYTHING THAT THE REFEREES DO AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING.

AND I WILL JUST END BY SAYING CHRISTIANIA RENALDO HAD A SIMILAR SENTIMENT.

HE HAD A THREE-GAME SUSPENSION BUT SOMEHOW THEY CHANGED THE RULES IN SUCH A WAY THAT HE HAD ONE DAY OF SUSPENSION AND THEN HE COULD PLAY THE FIRST MATCH OF THE WORLD CUP.

NOW SHOULD THE PRESIDENT GET INVOLVED IN THIS?

I DON'T KNOW.

IN IF I WAS PRESIDENT, WOULD I NOT HAVE.

LET THE GAME CONTINUE IN THE WAY IT CONTINUES BUT THIS IS WHAT IT IS.

>> BUT SPORTS IS BIG IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S NOTE JUST THE PRESIDENT.

DURING THE COLLEGE PLAYOFFS IF A STATE'S TEAM ISN'T CHOSEN, THE GOVERNORS GET UP AND SAY WE ARE GOING TO SUE AND GO TO COURT.

IT WASN'T SO MUCH TRUMP.

TRUMP WENT AND MADE THE CALL.

FIFA CHANGED THINGS.

IF YOU WANT TO BE ANGRY, IT SHOULD BE AT FIFA.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRUMP AND INFANTINO, HE GAVE TRUMP FIFA'S FIRST PEACE PRIZE SO THIS LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF THIS WAS DONE UNDER THE TABLE.

THE PROBLEM IS A NUMBER OF ANALYSTS HAVE SUGGESTED THIS ACTUALLY WORKED AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.

THAT BELGIUM NOW PLAYED WITH A CHIP ON ITS SHOULDER AND MAYBE THEY PLAYED A LITTLE BIT HARDER.

THE U.S.

CERTAINLY LOOKED TENTATIVE.

MAYBE THIS WAS A DISTRACTION TO THEM.

SO ALL IN ALL AS A BIG SOCCER FAN, I UNDERSTAND COMPARED TO MOST OF THE THINGS TRUMP HAS DONE, FIFA DID BEND A LITTLE BIT.

BUT IN THE END, BELGIUM OUTPLAYED US GREATLY.

>> YEAH, 4-1.

SARAH, THERE ARE OTHER HEADS OF STATES WHO HAVE INTERVENED GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO 1934.

AND AGAIN IN 1962.

AND MOST RECENTLY IN 2026.

SO, AS RICK WAS ALLUDING TO, POLITICS MATTER WHEN IT COMES TO SPORTS.

CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT?

>> I MEAN POLITICS IS EVERYWHERE, RIGHT?

SOMETIMES TO MY DISMAY.

BUT IMAGINE IF ANOTHER GOVERNMENT HAD LIKE INTERVENED TO DISADVANTAGE THE U.S.

TEAM, RIGHT?

WHAT WOULD OUR REACTION BE TO AT THAT TIME CASE, RIGHT?

I THINK ABOUT THAT AND HOW TRUMP'S HEAD WOULD EXPLODE IF THAT WERE THE CASE, RIGHT?

BUT HE IS ALWAYS, THE WAY HE OPERATES IS THE RULES DON'T APPLY TO ME.

AND HE IS JUST GOING TO DESTROY INSTITUTIONS AND PROCESSES AND THIS IS LIKE, RICK SAID, SMALL STAKES AND SMALL BEANS COMPARED TO ALL THE OTHER DAMAGE THAT HE HAS DONE TO PROCESSES THAT ARE MEANT TO BE MORE DEMOCRATIC AND TRANSPARENT.

JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, HE DISCLOSED HIS 900-PAGE FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE FORM AND THE CORRUPTION IN SO RAMPANT, RIGHT?

IT'S OVER $2 BILLION THAT HE AND HIS FAMILY HAVE PROFITED FROM JUST IN ONE YEAR.

IT'S NOT JUST CRYPTO.

IT'S ALSO RIGHT NOW MINING OF, YOU KNOW, MINERALS.

IT'S JUST VAST AND THIS IS A BIT OF A DISTRACTION.

THIS WHOLE FIFA THING, HONESTLY.

>> IT'S A DISTRACTION EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT ONE "NEW YORK TIMES" ARTICLE CHARACTERIZED IT AS YET ANOTHER REPRESENTATION OF "THE U.S.

AS A LAWLESS UNCONSTRAINED PLACE UNDER DONALD TRUMP."

HOWEVER, COMING FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF IT, ANIRBAN, COULD WE JUST SAY THAT THERE IS SOME BENEFIT TO THE PRESIDENT BECOMING INVOLVED IN THE WORLD'S MOST POPULAR SPORT THAT STILL HAS TO GAIN TRACTION HERE IN THE U.S.?

DIDN'T THAT SORT OF ELEVATE THE SALIENCY OF SOCCER?

>> WELL, I DON'T THINK SO.

I DON'T THINK HEADS OF STATE SHOULD INTERVENE IN LARGE SCALE GAMES LIKE THE OLYMPICS OR WORLD CUP.

I THINK IT'S NOT-- I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR.

I BELIEVE THAT THE GAME SHOULD CONTINUE AS THE GAME IT IS.

YES, THERE ARE WRONG VERDICTS IN MANY GAMES BUT THEY CONTINUE, THINGS HAPPEN.

>> I HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH ONE THING YOU SAID.

SOCCER HAS ARRIVED HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT DOES NOT NEED DONALD TRUMP.

40 MILLION PEOPLE, MORE THAN WATCHED THE LAST GAME OF THE WORLD SERIES, VIEWED THE GAMES, THE CROWDS DESPITE WHAT FIFA DID WITH PRICING AND EVERYTHING HAVE BEEN PACKED.

SOCCER IS HERE TO STAY.

THIS WAS JUST AN UNFORTUNATE DIVERSION AND IT HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY FROM SOME OF THE GREAT MATCHES THAT HAVE BEEN PLAYED AND ARE YET TO PLAY.

>> I STAND CORRECTED.

>> RICK, CAN I ASK YOU SOMETHING ABOUT THE INTERSECTION OF POLITICS AND SPORTS HERE?

THERE WAS THIS SORT OF GROUND SWELL OF AMERICAN SUPPORT FROM ALL OF THE FOLKS WHO WERE COMING FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE TALKING ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL HOUR FOOD IS AND HOW GREAT THE CITIES ARE, SO THERE WAS A SOFT POWER THAT WAS BUILDING.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAS HAPPENED WITH THAT SOFT POWER?

>> AGAIN, I THINK GIVEN THE FACT THAT BELGIUM WON, ACTUALLY THE COACH OF NORWAY SAID BEFORE THIS THAT HE FELT VERY SORRY FOR THE U.S.

PLAYERS BECAUSE IF THEY HAD WON, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A TAINTED VICTORY SO I THINK THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE DAMAGE IF THE U.S.

HAD MOVED ON, GIVEN BECAUSE THEY LOST I THINK MOST OF THIS WILL BE FORGIVEN ALTHOUGH THIS IS AGAIN A SIGN OF HOW TRUMP DOESN'T THINK MUCH OF EUROPE TAKING.

>> DO YOU THINK THIS WILL FOLLOW THAT PLAYER FOR THE REST OF HIS CAREER.

>> THIS IS A PROBATIONARY PERIOD.

THE RULE IS VERY CLEAR THAT HE IS ON PROBATIONARY PERIOD FOR A YEAR.

IT IS NOT HIS FAULT.

IT WON'T AFFECT HIS CAREER.

>> NOW IT'S TIME FOR OUR GRADE BOOKS.

AND WE ARE GOING TO START WITH OUR FS AND SARAH, WOULD YOU GET US STARTED.

>> MY F GOES TO IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT WHICH RECENTLY DELIVERED WARNING LETTERS TO TWO UPSTATE CITIZENS FOR ALLEGEDLY THREATENING OFFICERS.

IN THE FIRST CASE IT WAS A MAN IN ROCHESTER WHO HAD SENT A HARSH EMAIL TO THE ACTING DIRECTOR.

THE ICE OFFICER SAID THAT HE MIGHT HAVE VIOLATED A LAW AGAINST THREATENING A FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

AND THE SECOND CASE IT WAS A POLL WORKER FROM SYRACUSE WHO ALSO WROTE A SOCIAL MEDIA POST ABOUT ICE AND THEIR KILLING OF RENEE GOOD.

BOTH DEFEND THEIR COMMUNICATIONS AND PROTECTED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT, WHICH SEEMS OBVIOUS.

AND I WISH THEM LUCK IN THEIR LEGAL EFFORTS TO DEFEND FREE SPEECH AND PUSH BACK AGAINST ICE EFFORT TO CHILL SPEECH.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> MY A GOES TO THE INCREASING NUMBER OF DEATH IN ICE DETENTION-- MY F GOES TO THE INCREASING NUMBER OF DEATHS IN ICE DETENTION.

52 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN CUSTODY IN THE LAST 500 DAYS.

THIS MORTALITY RATE IS HIGHEST IN THE DECADE AND HAS DOUBLED SINCE THE U.S.-- ADMINISTRATION HAS COME TO FOUR.

>> MY F GOES TO DAN McKEY FOR SIGNING A LAW MANDATING THAT GROCERY STORES WITH SELF CHECKOUT REGISTERS HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE WORKER PER THREE MACHINES.

I USE SELF CHECKOUT MACHINES AT THE GROCERY STORES AND OCCASIONALLY THINGS GO WRONG AND YOU NEED SOMEBODY TO HELP YOU BUT THIS IS ANOTHER MISGUIDED EXAMPLE OF HOW THE GOVERNMENT THINKS THEY KNOW MORE ABOUT HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS THAN THE OWNERS OF BUSINESS IS DO.

>> WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH SOMETHING POSITIVE TO THINK ABOUT.

STARTING AGAIN WITH SARAH.

>> MY A GOES TO GOVERNOR HOCHUL-FOR-HER PLANNED EFFORT TO REFORM CERTAIN STATE REGULATIONS.

PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS AND FEES THAT ARE OUTDATED OR BURDENSOME.

WHO KNEW THAT SOME NEW YORK STATE LAWS REQUIRE CERTAIN DOCUMENTS TO BE TRANSMITTED VIA FAX OR THE POST SERVICE.

THERE IS SOME OBVIOUS EXAMPLES OF OBSOLETE RULES BUT THE PROBLEM GOES DEEPER.

GOVERNMENT TODAY REQUIRES REGULAR PEOPLE TO JUMP THROUGH ALL KINDS OF HOOPS AND NAVIGATE CONFUSING SYSTEMS TO SIMPLY USE SERVICES FOR WHICH THEY ARE ELIGIBLE.

AND WE UNDER INVEST IN GOOD DIGITAL SYSTEMS THAT WOULD MAKE INTERACTING WITH THE GOVERNMENT EASIER AND LESS FRUSTRATING.

I WISH HER THE BEST AND HOPE THIS PROGRAM SUCCEEDS.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> TO JOEY CHESSNUT AND MICKEY SUDO FOR DEFENDING TITLES AT NATHAN'S HOT DOG EATING CONTEST IN CONEY ISLAND.

THEY'RE THE WORLD CHAMPIONS, MUSTARD BELT OWNERS.

JOSIE CHESTNUT WHO WON YOU THE ALL BUT ONE CONTEST IN 2006 BATTLED APOCALYPTIC WEATHER DEFENDING THEIR MUSTARD BELT GULL GULPING AROUND 62 HOT DOGS AFTER SPECULATION THE CONTEST WOULD BE CALLED OFF.

AND SHE DEVOURED 39 HOT DOGS.

>> THANK YOU.

WE DO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TONIGHT.

SORRY, RICK.

THAT'S ALL WE HAVE IN THE STUDIO.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT THE REST OF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT PLEASE WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

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

I'M NINA MOORE FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "IVORY TOWER," HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

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