UPSTATE POLITICIANS IN THE NEW TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, CITIZENS LEARNING POLICE TECHNIQUES FROM THE FEDS• AND REPORTS FROM THE UN'S CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE•.

ALL THAT AND MORE 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 -NINA MOORE, FROM COLGATE UNIVERSITYAARON STRONG, FROM HAMILTON COLLEGE BEN BAUGHMAN, FROM GANNON UNIVERSITY AND TARA ROSS FROM ONONDAGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE THERE ARE SOME FAMILIAR NAMES IN UPSTATE NEW YORK THAT AMONG DONALD TRUMP'S CHOICES FOR TOP POSITIONS IN HIS ADMINISTRATION.

HE'S NOMINATING REPRESENTATIVE ELISE STEFANIK AS U.N.

AMBASSADOR.

AND THE REPUBLICAN WHO LAST RAN FOR GOVERNOR -- LEE ZELDIN ---A FORMER CONGRESSMEMBER -- IS ON TAP TO HEAD THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.

LET'S START WITH STEFANIK, WHO IS THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR OUR NORTH COUNTRY VIEWERS.

NINA, CONSIDERING TRUMP'S STANCE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, IS SHE A GOOD CHOICE?

>> WELL, I THINK IT DEPENDS UPON YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THE USE AND ABUSE OF PRESIDENTIAL POWER BECAUSE ON THE ONE HAND, THE SCHOLARLY LITERATURE ON PRESIDENTIAL POWER JUSTIFIES THIS CHOICE AS A SORT OF INDICATOR OF THE PRESIDENT'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE THOSE WHO SUPPORT HIS POLICY POSITIONS, WHO HAVE A LOYALTY TO HIS AGENDA.

ON THE OTHER HAND, HISTORY SHOWS THAT THIS COULD RUN AMOCK.

IN 1828 WHEN ANDREW JACKSON WON THE PRESIDENCY, HE SORT OF INSTITUTED THE SPOILS SYSTEM, WHICH WE ALL KNOW RESULTED IN CORRUPTION AND POLITICAL MACHINES AND THE LIKE.

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY A QUESTION OF HOW FOLKS CHOOSE TO VIEW THIS.

AND IT'S USUALLY THROUGH A PARTISAN LENS.

WHAT I WILL SAY ABOUT ELISE STEFANIK.

IT IS NOT JUST THAT SHE IS QUALIFIED OR A PICK OF TRUMP.

SHE IS BOTH.

SHE HAS SERVED AS THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CONSCIENCE.

SHE SERVED ON THE HOUSE ARMS SERVICES COMMITTEE AND ALSO THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE AND SO THOSE POSITIONS WOULD ENABLE HER TO ENGAGE ON A REGULAR BASIS AS A LEADER IN CONVERSATIONS THAT PERTAIN TO THE WORK OF THE U.N. ON THE OTHER HAND, SHE DESCRIBES HERSELF AS A LOYALIST TO TRUMP AND SHE VOTED AGAINST ESTABLISHING THE JANUARY 6 COMMISSION AND ON AND ON.

SO I THINK IT'S UP TO FOLKS TO DECIDE WHICH OF THOSE SIDES OF PRESIDENTIAL POWER AND HER APPOINTMENT ONE STANDS ON.

>> BEN, WHAT ABOUT HER QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS.

>> SHE IS QUALIFIED.

BUT FOR TRUMP IN PARTICULAR, SHE IS HIGHLY QUALIFIED BECAUSE SHE IS LOYAL.

AND THAT IS THE THEME THAT WE ARE SEEING ACROSS THE BOARD.

THE RESISTANCE THAT HE ENCOUNTERED IN HIS FIRST ADMINISTRATION AND PROBLEMS THAT CAME ABOUT FROM THAT, I THINK, HAS REALLY PUT HIM STEADFAST ON THE PATH-- I DON'T THINK-- IT'S OBVIOUS THAT HE IS ON A PATH OF MAKING SURE THAT THE PEOPLE HE SURROUNDS HIMSELF ARE LOYAL.

>> LOYALTY OVER EXPERTISE?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN HERE IS GENDER.

STEFANIK IS A LEADING FEMALE VOICE IN THE TRUMP LOYALIST CAMP AND HAS BEEN FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

SHE SORT OF REINVENTED HERSELF.

SHE IS NOT THAT OLD.

SHE IS THE AIM AGE AS ME.

BORN IN THE SAME YEAR.

AND BUT IF WE LOOK AT THE LAST FEW U.N.

AMBASSADORS, RIGHT, NIKKI HALEY, CURRENTLY LINDA THOMAS GREEN FIELD, MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN WOMEN.

AND ELISE STEFANIK WILL BE IN NEW YORK CITY, NOT D.C.

IF SHE IS AMBITIOUS ABOUT GROWING HER PROFILE IN D.C., IT WILL BE INTERESTING IF SHE CAN DO THAT FROM NEW YORK.

IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE VIEWERS WHO LIKES ELISE STEFANIK AND SHE IS YOUR REPRESENTATIVE, I'M NOT SURE THIS IS GOING TO LEAD HER ON TO A PATH OF FUTURE POWER.

IT IS A LITTLE BIT SIDELINING AND MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN U.N.

AMBASSADOR, IT IS A HIGH PROFILE ROLE BUT NOT IN THE HEART OF THE POWER TRUMP CIRCLE THAT WILL BE IN D.C. >> TARA, WHAT ABOUT LEE ZELDIN?

>> WELL, AGAIN, I THINK SIMILAR TO ELISE STEFANIK, LEE ZELDIN IS A GOOD PICK FOR TRUMP FOR TWO REASONS.

HE IS VERY LOYAL TO TRUMP AND HE COMES WITH SOME EXPERTISE WHICH WILL HELP HIM IN THE JOB.

OBVIOUSLY HE IS A FORMER CONGRESS CONGRESSMAN.

HE HAS SUPPORTED AND STATED HE SUPPORTS SWIFT DEREGULATORY POSITIONS WHILE MAINTAINING THE HIGHEST ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS.

BUT HE HAS ALWAYS MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT HE WANTS TO SET NEW STANDARDS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND THOSE STANDARDS WILL BE PRO-BUSINESS WHICH IS CERTAINLY WHAT TRUMP LOYALISTS WANTED TO HEAR BUT ALSO WHAT BUSINESSES WANTED TO HEAR AND HE IS A SUPPORTER OF CONTINUING TO USE FOSSIL FUELS.

SO IN THAT SENSE, HE IS THE PERFECT PICK.

BUT HE ALSO DOES COME WITH SOME PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE BECAUSE HE ALSO WAS PART OF A BIPARTISAN CLIMATE SOLUTIONS CAUCUS WHEN HE WAS IN CONGRESS.

AND SO HE DOES HAVE SOME REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE.

AND HE HAS DONE SOME THINGS THAT THE PUBLIC WILL SUPPORT; FOR EXAMPLE, HE SUPPORTS STRICTER DRINKING WATER STANDARDS, WHICH WE KNOW IS A MAJOR PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND HE SUPPORTED THAT LEGISLATION.

BUT WHAT ALSO CONCERNS ME ON THE OTHER HAND, IS THAT HE ONLY HAS A 14% RATING FROM THE LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS.

AND HE HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT HE REALLY WANTS TO PUT MONEY IN THINGS LIKE AMERICA BEING THE GLOBAL LEADER IN A.I.

HE WANTS U.S. ENERGY DOMINANCE, AGAIN USING FOSSIL FUELSMENT SO HE COMES WITH A LOT.

BUT IT IS ALSO GOING TO BE A MIXED BAG TO SEE WHAT DIRECTION HE MOVES IN.

IS IT GOING TO BE PRO-BUSINESS, PRO-TRUMP'S POLICIES OR MORE NUANCED APPROACH.

>> SO I WOULD AGREE THAT WHAT WE ARE REALLY TALKING ABOUT, DO WE LOOK AT THE PERSON'S IDEOLOGY AND THEIR POLICIES STANCE OR DO WE LOOK AT THEIR CREDENTIALS?

IF WE CONSIDER THE FACT THAT THE APPOINTMENTS TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH ARE DIVIDED IN THAT WAY, SO THAT THERE IS A 2,000 PERSON, I GUESS YOU WOULD CALL IT OUTER WHITE HOUSE STAFF THAT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE MERIT SYSTEM, AND THE REST ARE, BUT I WANT TO CIRCLE BACK TO SOMETHING THAT MY COLLEAGUE TOUCHED UPON AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH ELISE STEFANIK IN PARTICULAR.

IF WE LOOK AT THE EXAMPLE OF NIKKI HALEY WHO CAME OUT FIRST AS GOVERNOR OF SOUTH CAROLINA, NOT HAVING THE SPECIAL BACKGROUND TO BE U.N.

AMBASSADOR , SHE WAS ABLE TO LEVERAGE THAT IN A WAY THAT GAVE HER THE KIND OF NATIONAL PROFILE THAT SHE GAVE TRUMP A RUN FOR HIS MONEY.

BUT HER LOYALTY TO TRUMP WAS NOWHERE NEAR WHAT ELISE STEFANIK'S HAS BEEN.

NOT TO SAY THAT THAT IS A BAD THING, BUT IT IS A DIFFERENCE.

>> JUST QUICKLY, I WANT TO GET YOUR VIEW ON ZELDIN SINCE YOU KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> ZELDIN IS A REALLY INTERESTING PICK HERE.

LAST TIME WE HAD SCOTT PRUITT AND AFTER CORRUPTION SCANDAL, ANDREW WHEELER WHO WAS A COAL INDUSTRY LOBBYIST.

ZELDIN IS NOT A COAL INDUSTRY LOBBYIST BUT HE IS CLEARLY DEREGULATORY AND ANTIREGULATORY.

IT IS GOING TO BE REALLY INTERESTING TO PARSE WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE DOESN'T REALLY THINK HE WANTS TO TAKE CLIMATE CHANGE SERIOUSLY.

HE IS TALKING A LOT ABOUT FOSSIL FUELS.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS CAUSING $150 BILLION OF DAMAGE TO THE UNITED STATES EVERY SINGLE YEAR RIGHT NOW AND THAT HAS ACCORDING TO THE U.S. TREASURY.

SO WHAT ZELDIN DOES AND HOW HE PICKS APART THE E.P.A., ESPECIALLY WITH ELON MUSK LEADING THIS SHADOW DOJ AGENCY IS GOING INTERESTING TO SEE.

HE IS A QUALIFIED PICK, NOT THE PICK I WOULD PICK BUT IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW HE PICKS APART CLIMATE WHEN HE IS IN THE E.P.A.

>> AND THE NEW YORK POST SAYS BRANDON WILLIAMS IS IN LINE PERHAPS FOR SECRETARY OF LABOR.

LET'S MOVE TO OUR NEXT TOPIC.

FOR YEARS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES HAVE HELD CITIZEN ACADEMIES GIVING PEOPLE AN INSIDE LOOK AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES IN POLICING.

SOME CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS USED THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT TO UNEARTH THE DETAILS ON WHAT IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT-ICE -- AND AT LEAST THREE OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES --HAVE BEEN TEACHING IN THESE ACADEMIES --- HOW TO SHOOT MILITARY-STYLE RIFLES, HOW TO SURVEIL PEOPLE AND ROLE-PLAYING RAIDS ON IMMIGRANTS.

BEN, YOU COME FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT BACKGROUND, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THESE CITIZEN ACADEMIES?

>> I THINK THEY'RE GREAT AND HERE'S WHY.

WE STARTED THIS, AT LEAST AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL IN PUERTO RICO IN 2014 UNDER OBAMA'S ADMINISTRATION.

THE IDEA WAS FOR STAKEHOLDERS FOR DECISION MAKERS, FOR PEOPLE THAT HAD INFLUENCE IN THAT AREA, TO UNDERSTAND HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO BE A POLICE OFFICER AND ENFORCE THINGS LIKE SHOOT SITUATION WHERE IT'S HIGH RISK, LOW FREQUENCY WITH NO TIME TO THINK IT THROUGH.

VERSUS WHAT TYPICALLY HAPPENS, IS THE MONDAY NIGHT QUARTERBACKING WHERE YOU SIT THERE, SAFE ROOM LIKE THIS THINKING ABOUT WELL, I WOULD HAVE SHOT THE GUN OUT OF THEIR HAND.

AND YOU LITERALLY CANNOT DO THAT BECAUSE YOUR MINE MOTOR SKILLS DIMINISH SIGNIFICANTLY IN THAT TYPE OF STRESS.

I THINK IT'S GREAT FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING THESE KINDS OF DECISIONS TO EXPERIENCE THAT.

WHEN THEY GRADUATE, THERE HAS BEEN ABOUT 200 PEOPLE THAT HAVE GRADUATED FROM THESE ACADEMIES.

THEY DON'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL ARREST POWER.

THEY DON'T-- THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO CARRY A GUN.

THEY'RE NOT PART OF IT.

IT IS INFORMING THEM IN A WAY THAT MAKES IT UNDERSTANDABLE VERSUS TRYING TO EXPLAIN PEOPLE WHAT IT'S LIKE.

>> YEAH, I'M GOING TO GO A STEP FURTHER AND AGREE WITH YOU, BEN, AND SAY THAT THIS WHOLE ISSUE IS A TEMPEST IN A TEA POT.

I DON'T SEE HOW THEY WERE ABLE TO DRAW OUT OF THE MUCH MORE ELABORATE CURRICULUM THAT BEN JUST LAID OUT, THAT THEY'RE TEACHING PEOPLE TO SHOOT MIGRANTS.

AND I SEARCHED-- AND IT COULD BE MY SEARCH ENGINES THAT FAILED ME ON THIS-- BUT I SEARCHED AND I COULDN'T FIND ANY MAINSTREAM NEWS ARTICLES ON THIS.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, 70% OF THE ARRESTS MADE BY ICE ARE MADE IN CONNECTION WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND STATE PRISONS.

THE OTHER THUNK I'D SAY IS-- THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT I ANTICIPATE THAT INSTEAD OF ROUNDING UP CITIZENS TO SHOOT IMMIGRANTS, WHAT WILL MORE LIKELY HAPPEN IS WHATEVER STRATEGIES THAT WERE USED BY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION TO DEPORT 10 MILLION PEOPLE AND THE THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION-- CLINTON WAS 10 MILLION, BUSH 12 MILLION AND-- WE HAVE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE BASIC IDEA THAT IMMIGRANTS ARE NOT THE PROBLEM INSTEAD OF SCARING FOLKS INTO THINKING THAT AMERICA IS GOING TO ROUND UP IMMIGRANTS AND SHOOT THEM.

I THINK THAT'S SUCH A TREMENDOUS DISSERVICE TO THE CONVERSATION OUR DEBATE HOW TO FIX THE IMMIGRANT PROBLEM.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> TARA, CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS ARE SAYING THEY DON'T WANT THESE.

THEY WANT TO STOP THEM.

WE HAVE TWO POSITIVE IMPACTS HERE.

>> AT THIS POINT I WOULD SAY I WOULD STOP THEM FOR THE SIMPLE FACT THAT FIRST OF ALL, THEY SEEM TO HAVE EXISTED IN SECRET.

NOW I'M NOT NECESSARILY SAYING THAT THEY DID, BUT THEY APPEAR TO HAVE EXISTED IN SECRET.

THERE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE A CLEAR GUIDELINE FOR HOW YOU CHOOSE WHO GOES TO THESE ACADEMIES.

AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT BEN IS SAYING ABOUT IT'S JUST TO GIVE PEOPLE THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN THAT SITUATION.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, WHY DO THEY NEED THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN THAT SITUATION?

YOU ARE THE C.E.O.

OF A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY.

WHY DO YOU NEED THAT EXPERIENCE?

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IS HOW TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HIRE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.

WHY DO YOU NEED THAT OTHER EXPERIENCE?

AND SO RIGHT NOW, I DON'T REALLY SEE THE PURPOSE FOR THIS.

AND I'M ALSO CONCERNED WITH HOW INDIVIDUALS ARE CHOSEN TO GO THROUGH THIS ACADEMY.

>> THEY'RE CHOSEN BY THE SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE THAT IS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

AND IT'S ONLY LIKE 30 PEOPLE EACH YEAR.

>> AND JUST REAL QUICK.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE FROM THE MEDIA TEND TO BE A LOT OF THE CHOICES.

AND THAT'S-- THOSE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE INFLUENCING THE REST OF THE PUBLIC'S OPINION.

>> LET'S GET AARON IN ON THIS.

>> I REALLY THINK I AGREE WITH TARA HERE AND I FRANKLY DISAGREE THAT THESE ARE A GOOD IDEA.

I THINK IT MAY BE A TEMPEST IN A TEA POT BUT THIS IS ONLY GOING TO FURTHER THE DEGREE TO WHICH IMMIGRANTS IN THIS COUNTRY, INCLUDING PEOPLE HERE LEGALLY AND DOCUMENTED AND INCLUDING U.S. CITIZENS ARE GOING TO BE LIVING IN FEAR OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

IT MAY NOT BE A WELL JUSTIFIED FEAR BUT IT'S GOING TO SERVE THAT NARRATIVE OF YOU ARE GOING TO BE ROUNDED UP.

WE NEED TO DO EXACTLY WHAT NINA SAID.

WE NEED TO COUNTER THAT NARRATIVE.

THIS IS NOT HELPING THAT.

>> I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR AND SAY THAT I DON'T SEE ANY GOOD IN THIS.

WHAT I AM SAYING IS I DON'T THINK THIS IS A REAL ISSUE.

THIS IS ANOTHER INSTANCE WHERE YOU'VE GOT EITHER PROGRESSIVES OR LIBERALS OR DEMOCRATS WHO ARE EXAGGERATING TO THE POINT THAT WE CAN'T GET AROUND TO THE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION THAT WE OUGHT TO HAVE.

STOP IT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT REAL STUFF.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS REAL STUFF.

GOVERNMENTAL REPRESENTATIVES AT THE ANNUAL UN CLIMATE SUMMIT THIS WEEK IN AZERBAIJAN HEARD THE WORLD ISN'T DOING AS WELL AS IT SHOULD BE ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

HERE'S A GRAPHIC OF RESEARCH DATA FROM THE CLIMATE ACTION TRACKER.

THE TOP GOLD WAVE PROJECTS THE PATH OF CURRENT EMISSIONS• ON GLOBAL TEMPERATURES.

THE NEXT YELLOW WAVE SHOWS WHERE THE WORLD WILL BE IF COUNTRIES DO WHAT THEY PLEDGED.

AND THE BOTTOM GREEN WAVE SHOWS WHERE WE'D BE IF WE MET THE GOALS FROM THE PARIS AGREEMENT.

AARON, YOU'VE BEEN TO SEVERAL OF THESE CONFERENCES AND YOU'RE IN TOUCH WITH PEOPLE THERE THIS YEAR.

WHAT'S YOUR ASSESSMENT?

>> SO, FIRST OF ALL YOU MIGHT NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE U.N. CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

IT'S A MOUTHFUL.

SOMETIMES IT'S CALLED COP.

THIS IS THE ANNUAL U.N.

CLIMB CLIMATE TALKS GOING ON SINCE 1995.

THIS IS WHERE WE GOT THE PARIS AGREEMENT AND THE KYOTO PROTOCOL.

I HAVE BEEN TO FOUR OF THESE.

THEY'RE TOTAL SPECTACLES.

IMAGINE EPICOTT MEETS HOLLYWOOD MEETS A HUGE ACADEMIC CONFERENCE MEETS CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ALL IN THE SAME PLACE.

YOU ARE WALKING AROUND AND THERE IS A PAVILION FROM MOROCCO ON WHAT THEY'RE DOING ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND A PAVILION FROM FIGI AND IT LOOKS LIKE A TROPICAL ISLAND AND THERE GOES KATY PERRY AND LEONARDO DICAPPRIO.

IT IS A MEDIA CIRCUS VIEW WITH 50,000 PEOPLE.

AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.

>> NO WONDER YOU WANT TO GO.

>> IT'S FUN TO GO IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO GO.

I TOOK 40 STUDENTS TO THE PARIS AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS IN 2015 IN PARIS THAT LED TO THIS PARIS AGREEMENT THAT TRUMP WILL SURELY REWITHDRAW US OUT OF.

TALKING TO A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS IN AZERBAIJAN RIGHT NOW AT THE MEETING AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE IS JUST ASKING HIM, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF CLIMATE UNDER TRUMP?

AND HE JUST SAID I FEEL LIKE I'M IN THAT MOVIE GROUND HOG DAY BILL MURRAY BECAUSE I WAS HERE IN 2017 AND EVERYONE ASKED ME THE SAME EXACT QUESTION.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE BIG DEAL WITH TRUMP LEAVING THE-- TAKING THE U.S. OUT OF THE PARIS AGREEMENT IS NOT SO MUCH WHAT THAT WILL MEAN FROM AN EMISSIONS STANDPOINT JUST IF THE U.S.

DOESN'T FOLLOW THROUGH ON ITS COMMITMENTS.

IT REALLY WILL DEFLATE THE GLOBAL BALLOON OF CLIMATE ACTION.

SO INDIA AND CHINA, WHILE THEY HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT ON RENEWABLE ENERGY ARE STILL BURNING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF COAL FOR ELECTRICITY.

THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT LESS PRESSURE ON THEM TO STOP BURNING COAL IF THE U.S. SAYS WE ARE NOT TRYING TO DO ANYTHING ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

BUT LET'S BE CLEAR.

WE SAW THE GRAPH EARLIER AND SAID WE ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH.

WE SHOULD BE DOWN ON THE BLUE LINE AND WE ARE UP HERE IN THE YELLOW.

BUT YOU WILL NOTE THAT EMISSIONS HAVE FLAT LINED AT THAT TOP LEVEL.

WE ARE NOT GOING UP AND UP AND UP.

WHEN I GOT INTO THIS BUSINESS 15 YEARS AGO AND STARTED STUDYING CLIMATE CHANGE, ALL THE PROJECTIONS WERE WE WERE GOING TO BE WAY ABOVE THE GOLDEN LINE.

WAY ABOVE IT.

THE TRUTH IS WE HAVE STARTED TO COME DOWN.

MOST OF YOU DON'T KNOW THAT IN THE UNITED STATES, EMISSIONS HAVE GONE DOWN 18% BELOW 2005 LEVELS AS OF 2023.

WE'VE GONE DOWN AND WITH THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT BIDEN'S BIG SIGNATURE CLIMATE LAW, WE ARE ACTUALLY ON TRACK IN THE UNITED STATES BY 2030 TO REDUCE EMISSIONS 40% BELOW WHERE THEY WERE IN 2005 BY 2030 AND THAT'S ALMOST AT THE 50% LINE WHICH WOULD BE WHAT SCIENCE SAYS WE NEED TO DO AT CLIMATE CHANGE.

WE ARE ALMOST IN THE U.S. ON TRACK TO DO WHAT SCIENCE SAYS WE SHOULD BE DOING IN CLIMATE CHANGE.

THAT'S NOT A NARRATIVE THAT IS OUT THERE.

WE WERE THERE.

TRUMP IS GOING WITHDRAW A LOT FROM THE PARIS AGREEMENT AND TAKE A STEP BACK FROM THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT.

IF HE CAN GET CONGRESS TO REPEAL IT, WE ARE NOT GOING TO REDUCE OUR EMISSIONS THE WAY WE WOULD HAVE.

>> TARA, WILL HE GET CONGRESS TO PULL US BACK?

>> I THINK HE WILL.

PARTIALLY BECAUSE LET'S FACE IT, A GOOD PORTION OF CONGRESS IS BEHOLDEN TO HIM WHETHER HE IS PEOPLE WHO MAINTAIN THEIR SEATS TORE WON THEIR SEATS, THEY'RE BEHOLDEN TO THEM AND THAT IS ONE OF TRUMP'S SIGNATURE PROMISES.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT REAL AND WE DON'T NEED TO BE CONCERNED WITH FOSSIL FUELS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

I THINK HE WILL.

NOW, WILL HE GET A ROLL BACK AS MUCH AS HE THINKS HE WILL?

THAT'S THE QUESTION.

I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME, SO THAT HE CAN SAY HE KEPT HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISE BUT I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE AS MUCH AS HE OR AS MUCH AS PEOPLE THINK.

>> BEN.

>> AGREED.

THE SKY IS NOT FALLING.

AGREED.

100% WITH TARA.

THE ELECTRIC GRID IS IN THE IN A POSITION TO HAM ELECTRIC CARS EVERYWHERE LIKE THE TRACK THAT WE ARE BEING PUSHED AND FORCED.

NOBODY LIKES TO BE TOLD WHAT TO DO.

I THINK THIS ADMINISTRATION WITH MUSK HAVING THE INFLUENCE HE CURRENTLY HAS, WHICH I DON'T THINK THAT IS GOING TO STAY FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, BUT AT LEAST INITIALLY, HIS BUSINESS INTERESTS IS TO PUSH ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND EFFECTIVE ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

SO I THINK NUDGING IS GOING TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN PUSHING.

>> NINA, WHERE ARE YOU ON THIS?

>> WELL, I WANTED TO GO BACK TO THE CONSERVATION ABOUT COP AND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING ACTUALLY RIGHT NOW IN AZERBAIJAN.

AND SPECIFICALLY THE CONCERN ABOUT ENSURING THAT THE POOREST COUNTRIES ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, ABUSED AS THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST UNDER COLONIALISM AND THAT THERE IS A PLAN FOR THE EXTRACTION OF MINERALS THAT ARE NEEDED TO POWER ELECTRIC CARS AND SOLAR PANEL GRIDS IN A WAY, AS I SAID, THAT DOESN'T SORT OF MAKE, YOU KNOW, COLONIALISM JUST A NEW THING UNDER CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY.

SO WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT?

>> SO IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, SINCE PARIS, THESE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEEN ABOUT PROVIDING MONEY TO THE GLOBAL SOUTH TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN ORDER FOR THEM TO ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND MOST RECENTLY, THE TO ACTUALLY PAY FOR THE DAMAGES THEY'RE SUFFERING FROM CLIMATE CHANGE.

NOW THOSE NEGOTIATIONS DON'T TEND TO GO WELL WHEN THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ARE SAYING WE NEED SUPPORT AND THE WEALTHY COUNTRIES ARE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE IT AND SO IT'S KIND OF A STALEMATE.

I DON'T THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT COME OUT OF THIS.

>> I'M SORRY TO SAY WE HAVE TO LEAVE THIS TOPIC RIGHT NOW BUT I'M SURE WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT IT NOW.

LET'S OPEN UP THE GRADEBOOK.

>> MY F GOES TO THE PERSON OR PERSONS WHO CHOSE TO SEND THREATENING MESSAGES TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS AMERICAN STUDENTS, YOU ARE SEEING ONE OF THEM ON YOUR SCREEN.

AND THIS WAS ESPECIALLY SENT TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN FEMALES.

THIS OCCURRED BASICALLY AFTER TRUMP WON THE ELECTION AND IT WAS DESIGNED SIMPLY TO CREATE FEAR.

>> NINA.

>> SURE.

THE STATE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE RECENTLY COMPLETED A REPORT ON CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM IN NEW YORK'S SCHOOLS.

IT SHOWS THAT ABOUT ONE IN THREE NEW YORK STUDENTS ARE CHRONICALLY ABSENT FROM SCHOOL.

RATES ARE HIGHER IN HIGH NEED SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND IN PREDOMINANTLY MINORITY DISTRICTS.

IT SEVERELY IMPACTS LEARNING AND WE HAVE TO STOP TALKING ABOUT THE NEED OR START TALKING ABOUT THE NEED TO REVERSE THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC AND HOW TO GET KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL.

>> AARON.

>> SO MY F GOES TO GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL FOR LIFTING HER PAWS ON CONGESTION PRICES AT A 40% REDUCED RATE OF $9.

LIFTING IT WITH A WEAKER KNEE CAPPED PLAN ISN'T HAVING YOUR CAKE AND EATING IT, TOO.

IT'S DROPPING YOUR CAKE AND TRYING TO PICK UP THE SMUSHED PIECES AND DEPEND IT IS FINE.

YOU DROPPED IT AND BROKE IT FOR POLITICAL REASONS NOT NECESSARY.

>> BEN YOUR F. >> TO FOUR L.A.

RESIDENTS WHO TRIED TO DEFRAUD INSURANCE COMPANIES OUT OF $141,000 AND THEY WERE DOING IT BY WEARING A BEAR COSTUME.

THEY TOLD THE INSURANCE COMPANY THAT A BEAR ATTACKED THEIR CARS, A WILDLIFE EXPERT BELIEVE IT OR NOT WATCHED ALL THE VIDEOS AND DID DEEM IT WAS A HUMAN WEARING A COSTUME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AS.

>> MY A GOES TO PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WHO EVEN TRUMP SAID WAS VERY GRACIOUS DURING A RECENT MEETING OF THE TWO AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

IT WAS THE FIRST OF SUCH MEETINGS SINCE THE ELECTION.

OF THE LAST-- IT LASTED TWO HOURS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND DISCUSSED PAINLY TWO ISSUES.

UKRAINE AND WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, PRESIDENT BIDEN UPHELD A TRADITION THAT IS SO CRITICAL TO A PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER BY OFFERING TO TO DO "EVERYTHING HE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE TRUMP HAS WHAT HE NEEDS" AND THAT, FOLKS, IS A CLASS ACT.

>> AARON, YOUR A.

>> SO BELIEVE IT OR NOT, MY A GOES TO CATS HOCHUL FOR LIFTING HER PAWS ON CONGESTION PRICING IN MANHATTAN IS BECAUSE THIS IS ACTUALLY A GOOD IDEA THAT WILL REDUCE POLLUTION AND REDUCE CONGESTION IN MANHATTAN SO THERE ARE PROVISIONS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR LOWER INCOME WORKERS.

TAKE THE TRAIN.

>> BEN.

>> MY A IS GOING TO A CHARITY CALLED SAVE THE ELEPHANTS.

IN KENYA, THEY SET UP WITH 49 BEE KEEPERS A BUNCH OF BEES, 7,000 AND THE WIN-WIN SITUATION IS ELEPHANTS GROWTH HAVE GONE UP 300% AND THE FARMERS ARE NOW, THEIR CROPS ARE PROTECTED.

>> GOOD FOR THE ELEPHANTS.

>> TARA YOUR A.

>> ON YOUR SCREEN YOU ARE SEEING JUDITH WHO RECENTLY PASSED AWAY, ATYPICAL IN SO MANY WAYS.

SHE WAS 6 FEET TALL, LEAN, STATUESQUE AND ALSO ONE OF THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN BALLERINAS IF NOT THE FIRST TO BE FEATURED ON TELEVISION.

TO THIS LITTLE GIRL WATCHING HER FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS AMAZING.

AND SHE WAS AN AMAZING BALLERINA.

LATER ON SHE WAS AN AMAZING DIRECTOR OF THE ALVIN AILEY DANCE THEATER AND SHE WILL BE SORELY MISSED.

>> YES.

LET'S KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING.

IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS ABOUT THIS SHOW --- FEEL FREE TO WRITE US AT ANY OF THE ADDRESSES ON THE SCREEN.

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

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THANKS FOR WATCHING.

BE WELL AND GOOD NIGHT.