I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA TRUMP AND HARRIS JOIN THE PODCAST REVOLUTION POLITICAL STORMS...HELENE, MILTON, AND MISINFORMATION AND SIGN OF THE TIMES....VOTE FOR TRUMP LIGHTS UP THE UPSTATE SKY.

STAY TUNED.

"THE IVORY TOWER" IS NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO IVORY TOWER.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

I'M JOINED AROUND THE TABLE TONIGHT BY NINA MOORE FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITY, ANIRBAN ACHARYA FROM LEMOYNE COLLEGE, JENNIFER STROMER-GALLEY FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, AND RICK FENNER FROM UTICA UNIVERSITY.

WITH JUST A FEW WEEKS UNTIL ELECTION DAY, KAMALA HARRIS IS SUDDENLY DOING A LOT OF MEDIA, INCLUDING A STOP AT A PODCAST CALLED CALL HER DADDY.

I'LL ADMIT I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT, BUT IT IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR PODCASTS ON SPOTIFY.

FOR HIS PART, DONALD TRUMP WAS A GUEST ON THIS PAST WEEKEND, ANOTHER POPULAR PODCAST.

WHICH, AS YOU CAN TELL, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH.

THESE ARE NOT THE ONLY NON-TRADITIONAL MEDIA THAT THE CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN ENGAGING.

WILL THESE ALTERNATIVE VENUES TURN OUT VOTERS?

WILL IT TURN OUT THE PEOPLE THEY'RE TRYING TO TURN OUT?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AND ONE OF THE CHALLENGES I THINK HARRIS HAS HAD UP TO THIS POINTED IS THAT GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE PUBLIC DOESN'T REALLY KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT HER, EVEN THOUGH SHE HAS BEEN VICE PRESIDENT.

SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE PRIMARIES TO MAKE HER CASE TO THE PUBLIC AND INTRODUCE HERSELF TO THE ELECTORATE.

SO THE PODCASTS AND THESE SOFT NEWS CONVERSATIONS THAT SHE IS HAVING ALLOW HER TO MAKE THAT CASE.

PODCASTS ARE INCREDIBLY POPULAR THESE DAYS, ESPECIALLY WITH YOUNGER VOTERS.

I ACTUALLY AM NOT EXACTLY YOUNGER VOTER, BUT I DO LISTEN TO A LOT OF PODCASTS.

AND THEY ARE EARNEST CONVERSATIONS.

I HAVE BEEN HEARING SOME CRITICISM THAT SHE IS ONLY GOING ON TO THIS SOFT SHOWS, WHERE SHE IS ONLY GETTING SOFTBALL QUESTIONS.

BUT I THINK FOR THE PUBLIC, THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY HEAR HER TELL HER STORY IN HER OWN WORDS, OVER A PERIOD OF MINUTES, NOT JUST SECONDS, I THINK IS ACTUALLY VERY BENEFICIAL.

>> AND THE PUBLIC IN THIS CASE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO SHE IS TRYING TO TURN OUT, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THIS IS NOT HER GOING ON, YOU KNOW, NETWORK TELEVISION, YOU KNOW, AGAIN WE ARE LOOKING AT ELECTION IS GOING TO BE DECIDED BY RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF STATES.

AND SO PODCASTS IN MANY WAYS CAN BE LIKE DIRECT MAILING WHERE YOU GO ON THE PODCAST IS THAT ARE TARGETED TOWARDS A CERTAIN SET OF VOTERS THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN.

I'M SURE BOTH TRUMP AND HARRIS ARE LOOKING FOR THE MOST POPULAR PODCASTS LISTENED TO BY INDEPENDENT PENNSYLVANIA VOTERS AND TRYING TO GET ON THAT.

>> BUT WHERE TO START ON THIS BECAUSE I DISAGREE WITH SORT OF THE IDEA THAT THESE PODCASTS ARE GOOD FOR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY AND FOR NATIONAL POLITICAL DISCOURSE.

AND HERE IS WHY I SAY THAT.

FIRST AND FOREMOST IS THE ISSUE OF ACCESSIBILITY.

WHAT WE SAW HAPPEN WITH MAINSTREAM NEWS OUTLETS AND ALSO CABLE NEWS IN THE WAKE OF THE HARRIS-TRUMP DEBATE IS THAT THEIR VIEWERSHIP INCREASED BY DOUBLE DIGITS BUT IN THE CASE OF THE PODCASTS, THEIR LISTENER OR VIEWERSHIP IS MUCH SMALLER, BUT TO A POINT THAT JENNY MADE IS THAT WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

THESE PODCASTS HAVE THE SKILL TO TALK ABOUT VERY LIMITED ISSUES AND NOT POLICY ISSUES.

AND IN THE CASE OF THE WHAT IS IT CALLED "CALL HER DADDY" SELF DESCRIBED AS A PODCAST THAT FOCUSES ON COMEDY, SEX AND RELATIONSHIPS, NOT THAT THOSE THINGS DON'T MATTER IN AN ELECTION, BUT AS JENNY SAID, IT'S REALLY THE NEED FOR US TO KNOW MORE ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS IN PARTICULAR AND TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT MATTER TO VOTERS.

THESE PODCASTERS DON'T HAVE THE SORT OF POLITICAL BACKGROUND TRAINING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.

IT WORKS FOR CANDIDATES, I WOULD AGREE.

BUT AS FOR WHAT WE ARE DISCUSSING IN THIS COUNTRY AND WHETHER WE ARE GETTING THESE CANDIDATES BEING GRILLED IS ANOTHER ISSUE.

>> NOW I AGREE WITH THE POINT YOU'VE MADE THERE BECAUSE JOE ROGUE AN, WHO IS PRETTY MUCH NUMBER ONE AND PEOPLE LOVE JOE ROGUE AN AND MY STUDENTS LOVE JOE ROGUE AN.

BUT WHEN I'VE LISTENED TO CONVERSATIONS-- AND THERE WAS A LOT OF THIS DURING THE PANDEMIC, HE IS GOOD UP TO A POINT AND THEN HE CAN'T DIG IN FARTHER.

HE DOESN'T HAVE THAT SKILL OR JUST RESEARCH.

I WONDER, ANIRBAN, BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP IS ALSO DOING THIS.

HE IS GOING ON THE ALPHA MALE BRO PODCASTS LOOKING FOR A DIFFERENT AUDIENCE, A VERY DIFFERENT AUDIENCE FROM WHAT HE WOULD GET ON "CALL YOUR DADDY."

>> I AGREE THAT NAME RECOGNITION MATTERS AND KAMALA HARRIS DID HAVE A LONG TIME TO GET THE NAME RECOGNITION.

SO GOING INTO THE PODCASTS HELP KAMALA HARRIS CONNECT WITH VOTERS WHO DON'T KNOW ABOUT THEM.

TRUMP IS A VERY WELL KNOWN FIGURE FOR DECADES AND DECADES.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH-- IT IS SOMETHING HE WILL TALK TO, I GUESS THE BRO'S AND THAT CROWD.

I DOUBT HOW MUCH IT WILL CHANGE POLITICAL AFFILIATION BECAUSE I THINK THAT POLITICAL AFFILIATION IS A LONG DRAWN OUT PROCESS, FROM CHILDHOOD AND SO ON.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE WOULD SWITCH BUT MAYBE SOME PEOPLE WOULD COME OUT AND VOTE.

I'M NOT VERY SURE.

AND JUST TO MAKE A POINT HERE, ALEXANDRIA COOPER SAID THAT WHEN IT COMES TO POLITICS, PLEASE HEAR ME OUT, MY GOAL TODAY IS NOT TO CHANGE ANYONE'S POLITICAL AFFILIATION.

THAT'S WHAT THE HOST THEMSELVES SAY.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT WOULD CHANGE THE ELECTION BUT PEOPLE WILL GET TO KNOW THEM.

>> YEAH, BUT I WOULD SAY HERE AGAIN SOMETHING THAT JENNY ALREADY TOUCHED UPON, AND THAT IS IT'S NOT SIMPLY ABOUT WINNING VOTERS OVER.

THAT, TO ME, IS SECONDARY TO FIRST LETTING VOTERS KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

AND SO HARRIS DID NOT GO THROUGH A PRIMARY WHERE SHE WAS VETTED, WHERE WE COULD COME TO KNOW WHO SHE WAS.

AND IN FACT THE ONLY PRIMARY THAT SHE ALMOST LASTED THROUGH, SHE DROPPED OUT BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T GAIN ANY TRACTION.

SO IN THIS CASE, IT'S REALLY A QUESTION OF ALLOWING THE MESH VOTERS TO KNOW WHO THEY ARE AND ON THE POLICY ISSUES THAT MATTER TO VOTERS.

AND THAT IS FIRST AND FOREMOST INFLATION AND ALSO IMMIGRATION.

MOST WE KNOW ABOUT HARRIS IS THAT SHE HAS A BROAD VISION OF HELPING THE WORKING AND MIDDLE-CLASS AND SORT OF THESE PIECE MEAL OTHER THINGS.

BUT AS TO EXPLAINING IN THE WAY THAT I HAVE TO SAY TRUMP HAS OFFERED AN EXPLANATION, WE STILL DON'T HAVE THAT.

>> I DON'T THINK TRUMP HAS OFFERED ANY EXPLANATION.

WHAT HE SAYS MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL.

>> THAT'S HIS EXPLANATION.

SO JENNY, THE WHITE HOUSE NOW HAS STARTED POSTING INFORMATION ON REDDIT AND OF COURSE WITH ALL THESE PODCASTS AND THESE ARE NOT THE ONLY TWO.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHERS, ALL THE SMOKE AND TRUMP HAS BEEN ON LOGAN PAUL AND YOUTUBERS.

WHAT DOES THAT TELL US ABOUT THE CURRENT MEDIA LANDSCAPE?

>> THE MEDIA LANDSCAPE IS INCREDIBLY FRAGMENTED.

AND THAT IS BOTH CHALLENGING FOR THE POLITICIANS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO REALLY POCKET THEMSELVES, IF YOU WILL, INTO THESE DIFFERENT AUDIENCES THROUGH THESE DIFFERENT VENUES AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND PODCASTS.

AND I THINK IT'S ALSO CHALLENGING FOR THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THE INFORMATION THEY'RE GETTING, THEY HAVE TO MORE ACTIVELY GO OUT AND SEEK IT WHEN THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO WHEN WE HAD THREE TELEVISION STATIONS.

THAT'S WHY AGAIN SOME OF THE APPROACHES GOING TO PODCASTS WHERE THERE ARE REALLY LARGE AUDIENCES IS THAT IT STILL HELPS THE CANDIDATE TO MAKE THEIR CASE.

>> NOW-- EXCUSE ME.

IT LOOKS LIKE TAMPA, FLORIDA DODGED A BULLET THIS WEEK, WHEN HURRICANE MILTON DID NOT DELIVER A DIRECT HIT ON THE CITY.

AS MILTON RAPIDLY GATHERED STRENGTH IN THE GULD OF MEXICO, IT APPEARED IT WOULD BE THE STORM SCIENTISTS HAVE BEEN WARNING ABOUT.

MEANWHILE, WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA IS STILL REELING FROM HURRICANE HELENE, AND FROM MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE FEDERAL RESPONSE.

ARE THESE STORMS 2023'S OCTOBER SURPRISE?

2024'S OCTOBER SURPRISE.

>> I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE AN OCTOBER SURPRISE.

BUT BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL, THE STORM WAS NOT A SURPRISE.

IT'S HURRICANE SEASON.

WE KNOW THAT HURRICANES WILL COME.

IT'S NOT A SURPRISE AT ALL FOR ANY METEOROLOGIST.

BUT WHAT IT HAS CREATED IS THIS CESSPOOL OF MISINFORMATION.

MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN SAYING THE DEMOCRATS HAVE ORGANIZED THE STORM THROUGH SPACE LASERS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW THE FEMA FIRST RESPONDERS ARE OUT THERE TO STEAL THE LITHIUM FROM TOWNS IN NORTH CAROLINA, RIGHT?

THERE WERE A.I.

GENERATED IMAGES OF TRUMP WADING THROUGH WATER TO HELP OUT PEOPLE WHICH ITSELF IS A FAKE BECAUSE IT SHOWS TRUMP HELPING SOMEONE.

YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT.

BUT THE ISSUE IS ALL THIS MISINFORMATION THAT'S COMING OUT , IT MIGHT CREATE CERTAIN KINDS OF, YOU KNOW, THOSE WHO DON'T STUDY CRITICALLY OR ARE NOT TUNED INTO THE NEWS OR JUST GET IT FROM CERTAIN FEEDS.

THEY MIGHT FEEL THAT THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING, RIGHT?

AND THAT WE GET ANGRY ABOUT IT OR WHATEVER BE THE CASE.

BUT THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN GREAT.

I MEAN IT HAS BEEN-- YOU CANNOT DENY IT TO THE EXTENT THAT LAURA INGRAM OF ALL PEOPLE HAD TO FACT TRUMP DONALD TRUMP SAYING THAT KAMALA HARRIS WAS THERE FOR THREE HOURS.

OCTOBER SURPRISE?

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT TONS AND TONS OF MISINFORMATION COMING OUT FROM THE FAR RIGHT.

IT MIGHT HAVE SOME EFFECT ON PEOPLE'S MIND SET.

>> THERE IS SO MUCH MISINFORMATION AND SOME OF IT HAS BEEN CONTRADICTED BY THE REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS THEMSELVES.

AND I WONDER IF THERE COULD BE A BACKLASH AGAINST THAT MISINFORMATION.

>> YEAH, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I MEAN I THINK THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE IS THAT IN MOMENTS OF UNCERTAINTY, PEOPLE LOOK FOR INFORMATION.

THEY DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHERE TO FIND IT.

WE USED TO TURN TO TWITTER, ONCE UPON A TIME WE WOULD GO TO TWITTER AND THAT WOULD BE THE PLACE TO GET THE CUTTING EDGE QUICK INFORMATION OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING ON THE GROUND.

WHEN HURRICANE SANDY HIT IN NEW YORK CITY, THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE GOT THEIR INFORMATION FOR IN THE MOMENT ON THE GROUND EXPERIENCES.

WE CANNOT TRUST ANYTHING THAT WE ARE SEEING ON SOCIAL MEDIA ANYMORE BECAUSE YOU SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE MANIPULATING THE OPINIONS AND PERSPECTIVES FOR THEIR OWN ADVANTAGES AND NOT TO REALLY HELP PEOPLE BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION.

>> CAN I TAKE A DIFFERENT TACT.

I KIND OF AGREE THAT I DON'T THINK THE HURRICANE OR THE RESPONSE TO THE HURRICANE IS GOING TO AFFECT HOW PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO VOTE.

WHERE THE OCTOBER SURPRISE MAY COME TO IS WITH THEIR ABILITY TO VOTE BECAUSE THE HURRICANE HAD THE MOST EFFECT ON FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH CAROLINA, NORTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA ARE BOTH TWO STATES THAT ARE GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT DETERMINING WHO WINS AND SINCE MANY OF THESE STATES HAVE GONE A LONG WAY TO MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO VOTE IN A NON-TRADITIONAL WAY, MEANING AT A POLLING PLACE ON ELECTION DAY, WITH ALL THE DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN DONE HERE, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE ABILITY TO TURN OUT VOTERS?

AND IF THERE IS A REDUCTION IN TURNOUT, IS IT MOSTLY, YOU KNOW, MINORITY VOTERS THAT WOULD VOTE FOR HARRIS?

IS IT IN RURAL AREAS IN NORTH CAROLINA, WHICH WOULD TURN OUT NON-COLLEGE EDUCATED MEAMS THAT WOULD VOTE FOR TRUMP?

THAT'S WHERE I THINK THE POTENTIAL SURPRISE IS, NOT IN TERMS OF WHO THEY WANT TO VOTE FOR BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO VOTE.

>> AND IN NORTH CAROLINA, THE LEGISLATURE HAS ALREADY TAKEN STEPS TO CHANGE THE VOTING RULES VERY LATE WHICH, OF COURSE, FOUR YEARS AGO CAUSED A LOT OF DIFFICULTY.

NINA.

>> YEAH, SO I WANT TO JUST GO BACK TO THE QUESTION OF WHERE WE PLACE THE BLAME.

I WOULD AGREE THAT DEMOCRATS CANNOT BE BLAMED FOR HAVING CAUSED THESE HURRICANES.

>> ARE YOU SURE?

>> WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT ON THAT.

>> I'M NOT A METEOROLOGIST BUT THAT WOULD BE MY BEST GUESS.

HOWEVER, HERE IS THE FACT THAT THE WHITE HOUSE HAS ADMITTED THAT IT DID NOT ALLOCATE SUFFICIENT FUNDS AT THE OUTSET AND FURTHERMORE, THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY HAS INDICATED THAT WHILE THERE IS ENOUGH MONEY, JUST FOR THE INITIAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE, THAT THERE ISN'T ENOUGH MONEY FOR THE POSTRECOVERY EFFORTS THAT NEED TO BE UNDERTAKEN.

BUT REPUBLICANS, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN ENTIRELY DEMONIZE THEM HERE; ALTHOUGH 88 OF THEM VOTED AGAINST INCREASED FUNDING.

WHAT THEIR CONCERN WAS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND COUNTS TO BE, IS WHETHER OR NOT FEMA FUNDS ARE BEING USED IN A WAY THAT IS MOST EFFICIENT BECAUSE HERE IS THE THING.

OF THE ROUGHLY $90 BILLION ALLOCATED TO FEMA PRIOR TO BOTH HELENE AND MILTON, HALF OF THAT MONEY IS ALREADY GONE.

AND SO WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO ASK, IF, AS METEOROLOGISTS PREDICTED THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN, WHY WERE THERE NOT ENOUGH MONIES SET ASIDE AS IT IS?

AND SO-- BUT THERE IS THE REALITY ALSO OF THE TREMENDOUS MISINFORMATION.

AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE VIEWERS TO GO AND LOOK AT THE FEMA RUMOR RESPONSE WEBSITE.

IT'S NOT SIMPLY THE CLAIM THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE CAUSED THIS.

BUT LOTS OF OTHER OUTLANDISH CLAIMS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE THAT HAVE HAMPERED THE RESPONSE IN THE AREAS THAT NEED THE MOST.

>> INCLUDING SAYING THAT THE FEMA MONEY WAS DIVERTED TO GIVE IT TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS THAT OUR LIAR IN CHIEF SAID THAT.

IT IS NOT.

HE IS THE PERSON THAT MOVED MONEY AWAY FROM FEMA AND GAVE IT TO ICE.

THIS IS JUST BIZARRE LEVELS OF LYING.

>> WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS NOT THERE FOR LONGER TERM RECOVERY, THAT IS A MATTERED OF CONGRESS NOT PASSING A BUDGET, IS THAT NOT THE CASE.

>> PARTLY.

>> AND THE OTHER ISSUE IS NOT JUST MONEY.

IT'S STAFF.

THAT'S REALLY THE SITUATION THAT THEY HAVE BEEN STRETCHED SO THIN, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT THEY COULD SEND DIRECTLY.

THERE IS LIKE A 35% VACANCY RATE IN TERMS OF UNFILLED POSITIONS.

WE NEED FEMA WORKERS THERE.

>> BUT IT DEFINITELY HAS TO BE MONEY BECAUSE SO FAR FEMA HAS ALLOCATED ONLY $137 MILLION FOR THESE TWO HURRICANES.

WHEN YOU COMPARE THAT TO KATRINA, TO ANDREW, TO ALSO TO SANDY, THEY STARTED IN THE DOUBLE DIGIT BILLIONS.

>> IN TERMS OF BACKLASH, WE JOKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE CONTROLLING THE WEATHER.

BUT WHEN IT GETS TO BE SO OUTLANDISH LIKE THAT THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT THAT IS NOT THE CASE, AGAIN, DOES THAT PLAY-- DOES THAT HURT NOT JUST HER, BUT THE PEOPLE THAT SHE IS SUPPORTING WHO-- IS THERE A BACKLASH AGAINST THAT?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, THERE IS THIS WONDERFUL BOOK FROM THE 19th CENTURY BY GUSTAF LEBON ABOUT THE CROWD THAT TELLS HOW FASCISM WORKS AND ONE OF THE IMPORTANT PIECES OF THIS IS THAT YOU DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO TELL THE TRUTH TO THE PEOPLE.

THEY KNOW YOU ARE NOT TELLING THE TRUTH.

ALL ALL HAVE YOU TO SAY IS WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR RATHER THAN ACTUALLY THE TRUTH.

SO THIS MAY ACTUALLY HELP PEOPLE.

LOOK, I KNOW THIS IS NOT TRUE BUT LOOK WE ARE CREATING ALL THIS RUCKUS WITHIN THE MEDIA.

>> THE STORM IN UPSTATE NEW YORK IS OVERA HUGE VOTER FOR TRUMP SIGN ON TOP OF THE BUILDING IN AMSTERDAM, THE VISIBLE FROM THE THRU-WAY.

A CUSTOM PRINTING COMPANY CALLED STICKER MULE PUT IT THERE.

THE OWNER SAYS HE PUT IT UP TO SYMBOLIZE THE RETURN OF AMERICAN MANUFACTURING.

THE AMSTERDAM MAYOR, A DEMOCRAT, HAD SUED TO REMOVE THE SIGN, SAYING IT VIOLATED ZONING RULES AND COULD BE DISTRACT DRIVERS.

THAT MOVE MAY HAVE MADE THE STICKER MULE SIGN A FIRST AMENDMENT CAUSE.

SHOULD THE SIGN COME DOWN?

DOESN'T THE BUSINESS HAVE A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO PUT UP WHAT IT WANTS?

WITH HIS OWN PROPERTY.

>> BASED ON WHAT I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I WOULD SAY THAT, YES, THE SIGN SHOULD COME DOWN.

BUT HERE IS WHY.

BECAUSE IT VIOLATES THE CITY'S ZONING LAWS THAT THERE IS A PROCEED DIGS ON THE SIZE OF SIGNS THERE AND, ACCORDING TO NEW YORK TIMES REPORTING, THE OWNER WAS NOTIFIED BACK IN AUGUST THAT HE WAS IN VIOLATION OF THESE ZONE REQUIREMENTS.

HOWEVER THERE WAS NO FOLLOW THROUGH.

WHERE I TAKE ISSUE WITH HOW THIS HAS BEEN HANDLED IS IN REGARD TO THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE A DEMOCRATIC MAYOR WHO IS GOING TO COURT TO RESOLVE THIS.

IF YOU HAVE A BONA FIDE ZONING SYSTEM SET UP IN ITS CITY, PRESUMABLY YOU ALSO HAVE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS THAT DON'T FORCE THIS DEMOCRATIC MAYOR TO GO TO COURT TO REMOVE A REPUBLICAN SIGN.

>> JENNY, IS A BUSINESS WADING INTO POLITICS GENERALLY A GOOD IDEA?

WE'VE SEEN THIS FROM THE OTHER SIDE, TOO, MAYBE NOT WITH A BIG SIGN.

>> FOR SURE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS REFLECTING ON IS THAT IF YOU DRIVE DOWN 81, THERE IS ANOTHER BUSINESS NEAR CORTLAND THAT HAS A VERY BIG PROTRUMP SIGN.

NOW THEY'RE NOT IN THE NEWS BECAUSE THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY EFFORTS TO TRY TO TAKE IT DOWN.

THEY ALSO DON'T HAVE A BIG-- IT'S NOT LIT UP OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S JUST A BIG CLOTH TRUMP SIGN.

AND SO THERE IS THIS QUESTION OF WHY BUSINESSES WADE INTO POLITICS WHEN THE RESEARCH IS PRETTY CLEAR THAT IT'S NOT ACTUALLY GOOD FOR BUSINESS.

THAT MOST VOTERS, WHEN THEY MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR PURCHASING, WILL THINK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT COMPANY AND THEIR STANCE AND THEY'LL MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THEIR OWN IDEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE, ESPECIALLY IF THAT BUSINESS IS AGAINST THEIR IDEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES.

SO IT DOESN'T HELP.

>> RICK.

>> IT'S INTERESTING.

CONSTANTINO SAID WASN'T BUSINESS RELATED.

HE SAID "I WANTED TO LOWER THE TEMPERATURE ON POLITICAL DISCOURSE" WHAT?

AND THAT "TRUMP IS THE UNITY CANDIDATE."

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT-- >> THE C.E.O.

>> SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF THOSE ARGUMENTS.

BUT YOU ARE RIGHT.

ESPECIALLY IN A BUSINESS LIKE CUSTOM T SHIRTS WHERE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT COMPANIES YOU CAN GO WITH.

WAS HE LOOKING JUST TO GET A REALLY BROAD AUDIENCE TO COME LOOK AT HIS SITE?

IF SO, HE SUCCEEDED BUT HE IS ALSO TURNING AWAY PEOPLE WHO NOW ARE PUT OFF BY HAVING THE SIGN.

SO I AGREE WITH JENNY.

I DON'T THINK IN THE LONG-TERM, THIS IS GOING TO HELP.

>> AND ANIRBAN?

>> AND I DON'T THINK THIS IDEA THAT BUSINESS WADING INTO POLITICS HARMS THEM.

BUSINESS DOES POLITICS ALL THE TIME.

IT LOBBIES AND SO ON AND SO FORTH BUT HOBBY LOBBY AND CHICK-FIL-A.

HAVE THEY GONE OUT OF BUSINESS?

THEY HAVEN'T.

THAT'S A COUNTERARGUMENT RIGHT THERE.

BUT HE MAY ACTUALLY ATTRACT A LOT OF THE MAGA BRO'S.

IT'S TRUE THAT OH YEAH, HE LOVES TRUMP.

LOOK AT THE SIGN.

AND A LOT OF MAGA PEOPLE MIGHT COME AND ACTUALLY START BUYING WHATEVER HE SELLS.

ON THE WHOLE, I DO THINK THIS IS JUST A NON-ISSUE IN THE SENSE THAT I AGREE WITH YOU, NINA, THAT IF THERE WAS A MECHANISM OF ZONING, RIGHT?

WHY WASN'T IT ENFORCED?

WHY ARE THEY SIMPLY GOING AND TAKING DOWN THE SIGN.

THEY DO IT FOR ANY OTHER PEOPLE, RIGHT?

THE COURT HAS GOTTEN INVOLVED OR SO ON AND SO FORTH.

IT'S FINE.

LET THE SIGN BE.

>> TAKING DOWN THE SIGN WOULD BE GOING ON THE PROPERTY.

THE.

>> THE FACT THAT HE BUILT A COMPANY WITH, I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY EMPLOYEES BUT IS CERTAINLY TO THEIR CREDIT.

AS AND F. >> ACCORDING TO A NEWS WEEK MAGAZINE, A PROMINENT CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATOR WORRIES THAT MILLIONS OF BORN AGAIN AND MAIN LINE CHRISTIANS WILL SIT THIS ELECTION OUT BECAUSE OF TRUMP'S SOFTENING POSITIONS ON ABORTION AND INVITRO FERTILIZATION.

I HOPE THAT EVERY CHRISTIAN VOTES IN THIS ELECTION.

I ALSO HOPE THAT THEIR VOTE IS NOT BASED ONLY ON ABORTION, BUT ALSO ON THEIR CHRISTIAN DUTY TO BE GOOD SAMARITAN TO STRANGERS AND TO LOVE OTHERS AS THEY LOVE THEMSELVES.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> WELL, MY F GOES TO TRAFFIC STOPS FOR MINOR INFRACTIONS BY POLICE.

CONTRARY TO POLICE PROPAGANDA IT DOESN'T HELP SOLVE CRIME IN ANY WAY BUT WREAKS HAVOC IN BLACK PEOPLE'S LIVES AND ENCOURAGES CORRUPT BEHAVIOR.

PHILADELPHIA IS THE FIRST LARGE CITY TO BAN MINOR TRAFFIC STOPS WITH THE GOAL OF HEALING THE POLICE AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND OTHERS MUST FOLLOW.

>> JENNY.

>> SO MY F GOES TO THE TRUMP GOD BLESS AMERICA BIBLE.

PRINTED IN CHINA, AND STANDING TO MAKE THE FORMER PRESIDENT $7 MILLION, ORIGINALLY DESTINED FOR EVERY CLASSROOM IN OKLAHOMA.

IT SYMBOLIZES, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, HOW WARPED OUR POLITICS HAVE BECOME AND HOW FAR WE ARE FROM THE FOUNDING FATHER'S VISION OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

>> RICK.

>> MY F GOES TO MORE ECONOMIC PANDERING BY DONALD TRUMP.

IN ADDITION TO NO TAXES ON TIPS, OVER TIME AND SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS, TRUMP NOW ANNOUNCES THAT HE WOULD MAKE CAR LOAN INTEREST TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

OF COURSE HIS ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE IN A SPEECH TO THE DETROIT ECONOMIC CLUB.

WHAT'S NEXT?

NO SALES TAX ON THE PURCHASE OF A PHILLY CHEESE STEAK OR MAYBE SUBSIDIES TO ARIZONA CACTUS FARMS.

>> OKAY.

TO THE AS, NINA.

>> WELL DONE, RICK.

I'M GIVING AN A TO THE GROUP OF BEVERAGE COMPANIES THAT GAVE $700,000 IN GRANT MONEY TO THE CITY OF SYRACUSE'S RECYCLING CART PROGRAM.

THE GROUP INCLUDES THE COCA-COLA COMPANY, Dr. PEPPER AND PEPISCO, THE GRANT WILL COVER A CHUNK OF THE $3 MILLION COST OF THE WHEELED CARTS THAT WILL GO TO SYRACUSE CITY RESIDENTS FOR CURB SIDE RECYCLING.

THE CARTS WILL REPLACE THE OPEN DESIGN BINS THAT WERE IN PLACE BEFORE.

ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT, HE SAID "OUR BOTTLES AND CANS ARE MADE TO BE REMADE."

FOR THE CLIMATE.

>> ANIRBAN.

>> MY A GOES TO THE PROMINENT PALESTINIAN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER WHO RECEIVED THE 2024 RIGHT OF LIVELIHOOD AWARD FOR HIS WORK WITH HIS ORGANIZATION THAT IS BASED ON HEBRON.

THIS GROUP IS BASICALLY STEADFAST AND NON-VIOLENT RESISTANCE TO ISRAEL'S ILLEGAL OCCUPATION.

OF COURSE AS A RESULT, HE HAD BEEN BEATEN, TORTURED BY THE ISRAELI GENOCIDAL REGIME.

>> JENNY.

>> SO MY A GOES TO THE U.S.

SURGEON GENERAL'S ADVISORY THAT PARENTS ARE NOT ALL RIGHT.

AS A MOM, I CAN ATTEST THAT WE AREN'T.

WE HAVE NO FREE TIME BECAUSE WE SPEND IT ALL WITH OUR KIDS AND WE ARE POURING OUR FINANCIAL RESOURCES INTO ENRICHING THEIR LIVES AND THIS LEAVES US CASH STRAPPED AND LONELY.

AND WORSE, WE ARE ANXIOUS THAT WE LEAVE TO OUR CHILDREN A WORLD THAT IS WORSE OFF THAN WE FOUND IT.

BUT AT LEAST THE SURGEON GENERAL SEES US.

>> RICK.

>> MY A GOES TO NEW YORK, NEW YORK, AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT OLD FRANK SINATRA HIT.

I'M TALKING BASEBALL.

NEW YORK YANKEES AND NEW YORK METS ARE MOVING ON TO THE AMERICAN AND NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS AND THERE IS A REAL POSSIBILITY OF A SUBWAY WORLD SERIES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

VERY GOOD.

I WAS UP NOT QUITE AS LATE AS YOU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

FOR COMMENTS YOU CAN WRITE TO THE ADDRESS ON YOUR SCREEN.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW THE SHOW AGAIN YOU CAN VIEW IT ONLINE AT WCNY.

ORG.

I'M DAVID CHANATRY, FOR ALL OF US AT IVORY TOWER, HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.