OVER THE LAST CENTURY, ONE HUNDRED DAYS HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT BENCHMARK FOR JUDGING THE WORK OF A NEW OCCUPANT IN THE WHITE HOUSE, SO WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING SINCE PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TOOK OFFICE IN JANUARY.

ALL THAT, COMING UP NEXT, ON CONNECT NEW YORK.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WELCOME TO CONNECT-NEW YORK, I'M DAVID LOMBARDO - HOST OF WCNY'S THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM, A DAILY PUBLIC RADIO SHOW, BROADCASTING FROM THE STATE CAPITOL.

ON THIS MONTH'S EPISODE WE'RE EXAMINING THE FIRST 100 DAYS - GIVE OR TAKE - OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S LATEST STAY IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

AND JOINING ME IN THE STUDIO TO REFLECT ON THE THREE MONTHS SINCE INNAUGURATION DAY, WE'RE JOINED IN THE STUDIO BY MORGAN HOOK, A PARTNER WITH THE LIBERAL-LEANING PUBLIC AFFAIRS FIRM BLUE JACKET STRATEGIES, KEVIN RYAN, CHAIR OF THE SYRACUSE REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE, AND GRANT REEHER, A POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

SO, GRANT, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

AND FROM AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, FROM A BIG PICTURE LENS, HOW HISTORIC HAS THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF THIS LATEST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION BEEN?

INGS IS THERE ANYTHING THAT IS COMPARABLE TO THIS OR ARE WE BREAKING NEW GROUND JUST WHEN WE THINK OF THE SCOPE OF WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING?

>> DEFINITELY BREAKING NEW GROUND.

YOU TALKED ABOUT THE LAST CENTURY GIVING US THE 100 DAY BENCHMARK AND THE ONLY PRESIDENT THAT WOULD EXCEED THIS IS FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT AND HE HAD A GREAT DEPRESSION TO DEAL WITH.

DONALD TRUMP HAS COME IN AND HAS HAD JUST A BLIZZARD OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND OTHER KINDS OF ACTIONS THAT HAVE HAD SERIOUS IMPACT IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE MAJOR BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT AND HAVE HAD EFFECTS THAT HAVE TRICKLED DOWN INTO SYRACUSE.

SO IT'S BEEN-- IT HAS BEEN CLEARLY HISTORIC.

WE CAN DEBATE ON WHETHER IT'S BEEN HISTORICALLY GOOD OR LOIRL BY BAD,-- HISTORICAL BAD BUT THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT NO OTHER PRESIDENT EXCEPT ARGUABLY FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT HAS BEEN AS ACTIVE IN THESE FIRST 100 DAYS.

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE FIRST 100 DAYS, KEVIN, DOES THERE SEEM TO BE A UNIFYING MESSAGE OR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PLAN TO WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN ADVANCING?

>> I THINK THIS IS HISTORIC IN THE SENSE THAT WHILE YOU TALK ABOUT THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF A NEW PRESIDENT, THIS ISN'T TECHNICALLY A NEW PRESIDENT BECAUSE HE SERVED FOUR YEARS BEFORE AND I THINK THE FIRST TERM AND HEAD WINDS HE FACED THEN FOLLOWED BY THE DEFEAT AT THE POLLS IN 2020 AND THEN FOUR YEARS OF REFLECTION, I THINK HE CAME INTO OFFICE ON JANUARY 20 THIS YEAR WITH A SPECIFIC PLAN AND AN AGENDA ON WHICH HE WANTED TO ACCOMPLISH.

SO IT IS CERTAINLY UNPRECEDENTED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING MORE SO THAN OTHER OF HIS PREDECESSORS THAT WERE ELECTED FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THEN TOOK OFFICE.

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE MANDATE THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP ENTERED OFFICE WITH THIS TIME, WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WAS?

WHAT DO YOU THINK VOTERS EMPOWERED HIM TO DO IN THESE FIRST 100 DAYS AND FOR THE NEXT THREE PLUS YEARS?

>> WELL, I THINK HIS ELECTION, AS MOST ELECTIONS ARE, ARE A REFERENDUM ON THE INCUMBENT AND THIS WAS A REFERENDUM ON THE BIDEN PRESIDENCY AND I THINK THE MANDATE IS TO UNDO THAT WHICH WAS DONE FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS.

I MEAN MOST OF THE FOCUS HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN ON IMMIGRATION BECAUSE THE IMMIGRATION CRISIS SPUN OUT OF CONTROL IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS AND SO EVERYTHING THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE SINCE THEN HAS BEEN A REACTION TO THAT, TO TRY AND REALLY SECURE THE BORDERS AND STAUNCH THE FLOW OF UNFETTERED ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION INTO THIS COUNTRY.

THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE.

I ALSO THINK THAT YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY, THAT I THINK HE CLEARLY WANTS TO REIN IN FEDERAL SPENDING, TRIM THE BLOAT OF BUREAUCRACY.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WAS AN ISSUE OF HIS IN THE FIRST TERM, BUT BECAUSE OF INEXPERIENCE AND OTHER DIFFICULTIES, HE WASN'T ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IT.

BUT NOW HAVING HAD THE BENEFIT OF THE PREVIOUS FOUR YEARS, I THINK HE KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS TO DO AND I THINK HE KNOWS HOW TO GET THERE.

>> MORGAN, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE LAST THREE MONTHS, DOES THERE SEEM TO BE AN OVERARCHING THEME OR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS ADVANCING?

>> NO.

I ACTUALLY THINK THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP, THE MAN, PRESIDENT TRUMP, IS SORT OF, FRANKLY UNHINGED AND HAS NO PLAN.

HE HAS NEVER HAD A PLAN.

HIS PLAN IS WHATEVER HE SEES ON FOX AND FRIENDS THAT MORNING.

I DO THINK A BIG DIFFERENCE-- AND I WILL AGREE SORT OF HERE-- I DO THINK A BIG DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT THE FOUR YEARS THAT WAS SPENT BETWEEN HIS ADMINISTRATIONS, I THINK THERE WERE PLENTY OF PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON AND AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO SAW IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUMP ON BOARD WITH DONALD TRUMP AND GO IN AND PREPARE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, LISTEN ABOUT THE FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT.

HE CAME IN WITH A TEAM THIS TIME THAT HAD A VERY CLEAR PLAN.

NOW AGAIN I DON'T KNOW-- DONALD TRUMP IS A TERRIBLY UNDISCIPLINED PERSON WHO MEANDERS AND TALKS ABOUT ANYTHING HE WANTS FOR TWO AND A HALF HOURS ON STAGE WHEN HE HOLDS THESE RALLIES, BUT IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN HIS ADMINISTRATION WHO WANTED TO COME IN AND DO THINGS, SPECIFICALLY, AS YOU MENTIONED-- YOU DIDN'T SAY IT BUT I WILL SAY IT.

JUST WRECK GOVERNMENT.

FIRE PEOPLE HAP HAZARDLY, CUT THE WORKFORCE, TRY TO TAKE DOWN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, WHATEVER THEIR DIFFERENT THINGS ARE.

I WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, THE ELECTION WAS VERY MUCH ABOUT IMMIGRATION.

I THINK THE ELECTION WAS VERY MUCH THE ECONOMY AND HOW PEOPLE WERE FEELING.

I DON'T THINK THAT THE PUBLIC ELECTED DONALD TRUMP TO DESTROY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; TO LAY OFF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.

MANY OF WHOM LIVE IN THESE LOCAL DISTRICTS LIKE HERE IN SYRACUSE OR IN THE NORTH COUNTRY IN NEW YORK STATE.

SO THAT'S NOT WHAT PEOPLE ELECTED HIM FOR.

THEY ELECTED HIM BECAUSE THE PRICE OF EGGS WAS TOO HIGH AND BEFORE HE TOOK OFFICE SAID HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT AND HAS MANUFACTURED AN ECONOMIC CRISIS WITH THE TARIFFS THAT IS GOING TO INCREASE PRICES.

SO LIKE AGAIN, THE IDEA THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF AGENDA, THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF PLAN, DOESN'T HOLD UP TO HIS ACTIONS.

>> YOU BRING UP THAT IDEA THOUGH, ABOUT SOME OF HIS SUPPORTERS NOT ACTUALLY BEING IN FAVOR OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE FIRST 100 DAYS.

BUT CNN ACTUALLY DID SOME POLLING ON THIS ISSUE ABOUT WHETHER THERE IS ANY REGRET AMONGST TRUMP VOTERS AND THEY FOUND AT 2 OR 3%, A TINY AMOUNT, SIMILAR AMONG THE HARRIS SUPPORTERS ACTUALLY REGRET THEIR VOTE.

GIVEN THAT, IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT THESE ARE THE ACTIONS THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY WANTED?

>> I THINK THAT THE ACTIONS-- SO GRANT JUST MENTIONED THAT THIS HAS BEEN HISTORIC.

YES, IN TERMS OF THE ACTIONS THEY HAVE TAKEN, THESE ARE ACTIONSES THAT WE HAVE NEVER SEEN A PRESIDENT TAKE BEFORE.

BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT IN PURELY POLITICAL TERMS, WHAT HAS HE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE FIRST 100 DAYS?

AND I THINK FOR YOUR REGULAR AVERAGE VOTER ON THE STREET, LIKE NOTHING HAS REALLY CHANGED, RIGHT?

WHEN WE REALLY SAW HIS POLL NUMBERS GO DOWN, IT WAS THE TARIFFS AND THEN IT WAS THE STOCK MARKET, YOU KNOW, DECLINING IN DRAMATIC WAYS AND PEOPLE WORRYING ABOUT THE PRICE OF GOODS GOING WAY UP.

AND THEN HE PULLED BACK ON THE TARIFFS.

HIS POLLING-- I THINK IT IS WAY EARLY FOR SOMEONE WHO VOTED FOR ANY CANDIDATE THREE MONTHS IN TO AN ADMINISTRATION TO SAY I REGRET THAT VOTE.

>> BEFORE I ANSWER THAT QUESTION, I WANT TO SAY IT'S INTERESTING HE SAYS WHAT HAS HE ACCOMPLISHED?

LOOK AT THE CONGRESSIONAL HEAD WINDS HE HAS IN TERMS OF GETTING LEGISLATION PASSED?

YOU HAVE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WHO IS REPUBLICAN BUT THEY HAVE A ONE OR TWO VOTE MARGIN.

I MEAN I THINK THE NARROWNESS OF THAT MARGIN IS ONE OF THE REASONS ELISE STEFANIK STILL SITS IN CONGRESS AND NOT THE UNITED NATIONS.

YOU HAVE A SENATE BUT THE SENATE HAS THE FILIBUSTER.

WE HAD A SPENDING BILL THAT WAS PASSED AND CHUCK SCHUMER CUT A DEAL WITH THE REPUBLICANS TO GET THE SPENDING BILL PASSED IN GOVERNMENT AND VILIFIED BY LEFT OF HIS PARTY WHO IS REALLY DRIVING THE BUS ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE AND HE IS GOING TO FACE A PRIMARY CHALLENGE FROM A.O.C.

PROBABLY WHEN HE RUNS FOR REELECTION.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE PRIMARY CHALLENGE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> HOW WAS THERE ANY INCENTIVE FOR A MEMBER OF CONGRESS ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE OF THE AISLE TO COOPERATE WITH A REPUBLICAN IDEA EVEN IF IT IS A GOOD IDEA WHEN THEY KNOW THE MAIN GOVERNING PHILOSOPHY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TODAY IS ANTI-DONALD TRUMP?

>> I MEAN HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE SAW WHEN DEMOCRATS HAD MAJORITY AND REPUBLICANS WOULDN'T GIVE THEM A VOTE ON ANYTHING?

>> THAT'S NOT TRUE THEY WOULDN'T GIVE THEM A VOTE ON ANYTHING.

MITCH McCONNELL CUT DEALS WHEN DEALS NEEDED TO BE CUT WHEN THEY WERE WORTH BEING CUT.

I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO USE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AS THE NORTH STAR OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.

>> HE WAS PRODUCTIVE IN TERMS OF LARGE BILLS.

COMING BACK TO THE ISSUE OF WHERE THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW FOR AMERICANS, DO YOU THINK LIFE IS DEMONSTRABLY DIFFERENT FOR AMERICANS THAN IT WAS BEFORE THE PRESIDENT TOOK OFFICE?

>> CANDIDLY NO.

I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, PRESIDENTS GOVERN AND I THINK THAT THE DAY-TO-DAY LIFE OF AMERICANS IS AFFECTED MORE BY THEIR LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS THAN WHAT HAPPENS IN WASHINGTON.

I MEAN OBVIOUSLY THE PRESIDENT SETS THE AGENDA FOR THE COUNTRY.

AND THEY ENACT SPENDING BILLS THROUGH THE BUDGET BUT SOME TERMS OF DAY-TO-DAY LIFE, I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY'S DAY-TO-DAY LIFE HAS GOTTEN DEMON TRABLY DIFFERENT IN THIS COUNTRY EXCEPT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BROKEN LAWS AND WITHDRAWS BEING ENFORCED HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT.

>> I WOULD AGREE.

I WANT TO ADD ONE QUICK THING.

I WILL TELL YOU THE OTHER PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES ARE VERY DIFFERENT RIGHT NOW ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN FIRED WHO WERE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WORKERS WHO NOW DON'T HAVE JOBS AND CAN'T SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES.

>> LET'S NOT PRETEND THAT TRUMP IS THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO COME IN AND MAKE AN AGENDA ITEM TO TRIM THE FAT OF GOVERNMENT SO TO SPEAK.

CLINTON DID IT.

H.W.

BUSH DID IT.

EVERY PRESIDENT COMES IN AND DOES THIS.

YES,LY SAY THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS GONE SOMEWHAT FARTHER THAN THAT AND HAS BEEN PUBLIC ABOUT IT.

>> UNDER STATEMENT OF THE YEAR.

>> GRANT, YOU WANTED TO ADD SOMETHING EARLIER.

>> I WANTED TO GO BACK IN THE CONVERSATION A LITTLE BIT AND SAY A COUPLE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO BEAR IN MIND AND THEY LINK SOME OF THE CONTINUES THAT MORGAN AND KEVIN HAVE MADE.

FIRST OF ALL ON THE IDEA OF A MANDATE, I WROTE ON THIS IN THE PAST, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PRESIDENTIAL MANDATE.

WE CAN STOP TALKING ABOUT THAT.

FOR ONE THING THE ELECTION WAS VERY CLOSE MUCH THAT'S THE FIRST THING.

THE SEGD THING IS PEOPLE VOTE FOR CANDIDATES FOR A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT REASONS AND OFTEN TIMES THEY'RE VOTING AGAINST THE OTHER CANDIDATE AND NOT FOR ANYTHING.

SO THE IDEA THAT THERE WAS ANY MANDATE AT ALL FOR ANYTHING IS JUST, YOU KNOW, NO PRESIDENT IN RECENT HISTORY HAS HAD ONE.

I THINK WE CAN SAY THAT THE PUBLIC WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE STATE OF THE BORED ERR AND THE STATE IN TERMS OF IMMIGRATION.

THEY WERE NOT HAPPY WITH INFLATION.

THEY WERE NOT HAPPY WITH THEIR OWN ECONOMIC SITUATION.

BEYOND THAT I DON'T THINK YOU CAN SAY ANYTHING ABOUT A MANDATE AND THE OTHER IMPORTANT THING IS TO SAY HOW POLARIZED THE COUNTRY THIS IS POLITICALLY.

NOT EVEN ARE WE EVENLY SPLIT BUT DEEPLY SPLIT AND THAT'S WHY KEVIN'S CONGRESS CAN'T DO MORE TO HELP TRUMP.

AND SO IT'S BECAUSE THERE IS A VERY SMALL MARGIN OF VOTES.

AND NEITHER SIDE HAS ANY INCENTIVE TO GIVE ONE INCH TO THE OTHER, WHICH IS TOXIC FOR TRYING TO FIND COMPROMISE AND COMMON GROUND.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE HAVE SEEN THE PRESIDENT AND IT'S NOT SOMEWHAT MORE THAN OTHER PRESIDENTS.

IT'S DRAMATICALLY MORE THAN OTHER PRESIDENTS.

THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASING TREND IN RECENT ADMINISTRATIONS TO INCREASINGLY USE EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

OBAMA DID THAT, BIDEN EXPANDED UPON IT AND TRUMP HAS EXPANDED UPON THAT IN THE SECOND TERM.

AND ONE EFFORT REASONS FOR THAT IS THAT THE POLARIZATION IS SO DEEP, YOU CAN'T REPLY LIE ON CONGRESS TO-- YOU CAN'T RELY ON CONGRESS TO GET THINGS THROUGH ANYMORE SO THIS IS A BETTER PATH FOR PRESIDENTS TO TAKE.

WHERE THIS IS GOING TO BECOME A PROBLEM FOR TRUMP POTENTIALLY IS HE HAS GOT TO HAVE THE TAX CUT.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS BETTING ON IS THAT THE DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN DONE WITH THE TARIFFS CAN BE UNDONE SUBSTANTIALLY BY A TAX CUT.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY TOUGH LIFT FOR THEM.

AND, YOU KNOW, TAX CUTS ARE ALWAYS POPULAR.

BUT THAT'S THE THING THAT HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE CONGRESS FOR, EVEN IF THEY DO IT UNDER RECONCILIATION.

>> I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT IDEA THAT THE TRUMP 2.0 TERM IS MORE PREPARED.

AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE SEEING A MORE AGGRESSIVE AND I GUESS MORE ACTIVE APPROACH VERSUS THE IDEA THAT THEY'RE LESS TIED TO SAY GOVERNMENTAL NORMS THAN MAYBE THE ADMINISTRATION WAS IN 2017.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT PITCH?

IS THIS A TRUMP TERM THAT IS MORE INCLINED TO SAY, YEAH, I DON'T WANT TO PLAY BY THE SAME RULES AS SOMEONE ELSE.

AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE ABLE TO TAKE ON MORE?

OR DO YOU THINK IT'S MORE A PRODUCT OF, YEP, WE HAVE BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK AND WE KNOW HOW THIS WORKS?

>> I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY THE FOLKS AT HERITAGE AND OTHER FOUNDATIONS HAVE BEEN INFORMING THE APPROACH TOWARD CUTTING THE GOVERNMENT.

I MEAN THERE IS A COUPLE POLITICAL STRATEGIES HERE THAT I THINK, QUITE FRANKLY, ARE BRILLIANT AS FAR AS POLITICAL STRATEGIES GO.

ONE IS THAT YOU FLOOD THE ZONE WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

>> LIKE DRINKING FROM A FIRE HOSE AS A REPORTER.

>> YOU FORCE NOT ONLY THE MEDIA BUT THE DEMOCRATS TO TRY TO FIGHT BACK ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FRONTS.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE SEEN THE DEMOCRATS REALLY STRUGGLING WITH IS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PRIORITY OF THEIR OPPOSITION IS GOING TO BE.

THEY'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THE OTHER THING THAT TRUMP AND THE ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE AT THE SAME TIME, IS YOU FLOOD THE ZONE WITH A LOT OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT ARE REALLY SIGNIFICANT AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME, YOU THROW A LOT OF SHINY COINS ON THE FLOOR AND WATCH THE MEDIA AND DEMOCRATS GO CHASING THEM.

>> BUT NOT PENNIES BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO STOP MAKING PENNIES.

>> WELL, OKAY, LET'S MAKE THEM SUSAN B. ANTHONY DOLLARS, OKAY?

>> ONLY IF SHE EARNS IT.

>> AND YOU'VE GOT LIKE, WE ARE GOING MAKE CANADA THE 51st STATE.

WE ARE GOING TO BUY GREENLAND.

HOW MUCH TIME HAVE WE SPENT TALKING ABOUT THOSE THINGS?

THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.

>> I WANT TO COME BACK TO THE IDEA YOU BROUGHT UP OF THE BLOATED BUREAUCRACY.

THERE IS AN ARGUMENT TO BE MADE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAT GOTTEN TOO LARGE AND NEEDS TO BE TRIMMED DOWN IN SIZE BUT THERE IS ALSO THE IDEA THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN PROTECTING THE PUBLIC WELFARE AND I THINK ABOUT THINGS LIKE THE FACT THAT THEY FIRED SOME SOME PEOPLE WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NUCLEAR ARSENAL AND HAD TO BRING THEM BACK.

FIRED PEOPLE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR FOOD AND DRUG SAFETY AND WE ARE LIKE OH BOY WAS THAT A MISTAKE.

SO ARE WE ACTUALLY RIGHT SIZING THE BUREAUCRACY OR ARE WE LETTING PEOPLE GO THAT WE NEED IN THE FUTURE?

>> I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS OF WHETHER ANY INDIVIDUAL IS NEEDED OR WHETHER IT IS BEING RIGHT SIZED, BUT YOU TALK ABOUT CUTTING BUREAUCRACY.

I MEAN DONALD TRUMP IS NOT THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO TALK ABOUT ELIMINATING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

RONALD REAGAN TALKED ABOUT IT WHEN HE RAN FOR OFFICE IN 1980.

SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU ELIMINATE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DOESN'T MEAN THERE ARE NO FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR EDUCATION, IT MEANS DISTRIBUTED IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN DIRECT AID TO STATES BECAUSE THERE IS A SCHOOL OF THOUGHT THAT MAYBE EDUCATIONAL POLICY IS BEST DECIDED AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL THAN IMPLEMENTED-- >> THAT ALREADY HAPPENED.

STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS-- STATE AND LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE THE LAST DAY BUT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATIONS INTO SCHOOLS.

WILL THAT HAPPEN IF DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DOES NOT EXIST?

>> SURE BECAUSE THEY CAN GO RIGHT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.

A SIMPLES INVESTIGATION, WHY IS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DOING THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE?

THAT'S A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHY THE DOE IS PATROL AN AGENCY, IF YOU ARE GOING TO START CUTTING, MAYBE YOU DO START THERE.

AGAIN, I'M NOT THE ONE PAID TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS BUT THIS IS A DECISION THE TRANSITION HAS MADE.

LIKE I SAID, HE IS NOT THE FIRST ONE TO PROPOSE IT.

HE IS JUST THE ONE ACTUALLY GOING AHEAD AND DOING.

>> IT MORGAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE EFFORT TO RIGHT SIZE THE GOVERNMENT, NOT NECESSARILY USING A SCALPEL BUT A MEAT CLEAVER?

>> WELL, RIGHT SIZE-- >> OR A CHAINSAW.

>> I WILL AGREE, CERTAINLY NOT THE FIRST PRESIDENT-- I THINK IT'S BECOME, TO MY GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT AS A DEMOCRAT AND I WILL BLAME BILL CLINTON FOR THIS.

BILL CLINTON WAS THE ONE WHO WATCHED RONALD REAGAN ATTACK THE GOVERNMENT AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK REAGAN RLG WAS THE ONE WHO SAID BASICALLY, PRIVATE BUSINESS CAN DO IT BETTER THAN ANYTHING THAT GOVERNMENT CAN DO.

AND I THINK THE DEMOCRATS AT THE TIME WERE WATCHING REAGAN FOR TWO YEARS AND WATCHING GEORGE BUSH TAKE OFFICE AND THINKING WE ARE TOTALLY OFFICE, WE WILL NEVER GET BACK IN OFFICE.

BILL CLINTON EMBRACED SOME OF THE TALKING POINTS.

I WILL ALSO SAY THAT GOVERNMENT-- BECAUSE NOBODY REALLY WANTS TO DEFEND GOVERNMENT.

>> BIG GOVERNMENT-- THE ERA OF BIG GOVERNMENT IS OVER IS THE BILL CLINTON QUOTE.

>> AND THE WORDS FROM RONALD REAGAN, I'M WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND I'M HERE TO HELP.

>> THAT HAS SENT US DOWN A TOXIC ROAD BECAUSE I WILL SAY AN UNPOPULAR THING.

I BELIEVE IN GOVERNMENT.

I WORKED IN GOVERNMENT FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

I'M PROUD OF MY GOVERNMENT SERVICE.

I THINK GOVERNMENT PERFORMS ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS THAT ARE HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE FOR THE POOR, FOR THE RICH, BUILDING ROADS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

AND THAT WHAT IS GOVERNMENT PROVIDES.

BUT IT'S NOT A POPULAR POLITICAL THING.

IT'S NOT A CAMPAIGN TRAIL FOR A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN TO GO OUT THERE AND SAY I'M GOING TO DEFEND GOVERNMENT.

I'M GOING TO SAY WE DO GOOD STUFF.

I'M GOING TO SAY THE MONEY IS WORTH IT.

NOBODY SAYS THAT BECAUSE IT'S POLITICS.

LOOK, OBAMA DID IT, TOO.

LIKE NOBODY IS GOING OUT THERE AND DEFENDING THE GOVERNMENT WORKERS WHO IS GOING OUT THERE.

I THINK THIS IS DIFFERENT-- THIS IS A WHOLE OTHER SCALE HERE.

THIS IS WE ARE GOING TO FIRE EVERY PROBATIONARY WORKER WE HAVE HIRED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

WE DON'T CARE WHAT THEY DID, WHO THEY ARE.

THEY'RE GONE.

THAT IS NOT RIGHT SIZING.

THAT IS A PERFORMATIVE GUTTING OF GOVERNMENT BECAUSE I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION -- WHEREAS I THINK CLINTON OROBAM ACOR BIDEN, THEY WOULD SAY YES, OF COURSE WE CAN TRIM THE FAT.

I THINK THAT THEY AT THEIR CORE BELIEF THAT THE FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENT DOES NOT.

THE REPUBLICANS OVER THE DECADES HAVE DECIDED THAT GOVERNMENT IS EVIL AND NEEDS TO BE DESTROYED.

AND THERE ARE CERTAIN ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO CARRY THAT WITH THEM AT ALL POINTS IN THEIR DIFFERENT ELECTIONS AND IT IS INTERESTING TO ME THAT A CAREER POLITICIAN CAN SAY THEY HATE GOVERNMENT BUT THAT IS WHERE WE ARE NOW WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION.

>> THE PAST ADMINISTRATIONS WERE HAM STRUNG BY CERTAIN NORPS SO YOU COULD TALK ABOUT GETTING RID OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BUT THEN YOU GET INTO OFFICE AND, SORRY, YOU NEED THIS AND YOU NEED THAT BUT KEVIN YOU WANT TO ADDING?

>> IT'S INTERESTING TO HEAR HIM TALK ABOUT BILL CLINTON BECAUSE BILL CLINTON AS YOU NOTED RAN FOR PRESIDENT AFTER EIGHT YEARS OF RONALD REAGAN AND FOUR YEARS OF GEORGE H.W.

BUSH BUT HE WAS A NEW DEMOCRAT, SELF PROCLAIMED, THE NEW WAY.

I SUBMIT IN 2024, BILL CLINTON CANNOT GET NOMINATED BY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BECAUSE THE PARTY HAS DRIFTED SO FAR LEFT THAT THERE NO, SIR WAY THAT A MODERATE DEMOCRAT WOULD EVER CARRY THE BANNER INTO A GENERAL ELECTION AGAIN AND SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CAN TALK ABOUT THE EXAMPLE OF BILL CLINTON BUT I THINK THAT IS FROM A BYGONE ERA IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY UNFORTUNATELY.

>> I WANT TO JUMP IN ON THE ISSUE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HERE AND INSERT A COUPLE OF IMPORTANT FACTS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST 50 YEARS, AND YOU LOOK AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SEE IN TERMS OF SPENDING IS THAT SPENDING HAS GONE UP IN REAL TERMS QUITE CONSIDERABLY.

SO THE LINE GOES UP LIKE THIS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE, IT'S ALMOST FLAFT FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS.

>> BECAUSE WHERE WE ARE SPENDING MONEY.

IT'S NOT THE WORKFORCE, IT'S THE ENTITLEMENTS.

>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

THE BIG ONES, MEDICARE, MEDICAID, SOCIAL SECURITY AND THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT.

BUT THE NUMBER OF CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ALMOST FLAT.

THE APPROACH THOUGH THAT DOGE AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN IS TO FOCUS ON CUTTING POSITIONS AND CUTTING PEOPLE REGARDS THAN THINKING ABOUT THE SPENDING.

MY CONCERN IS TO THE DEGREE THAT BEE HAVE A SPENDING PROBLEM, THIS DOESN'T REALLY GET AT IT.

AND TO THE DEGREE THAT WE HAVE A STAFFING PROBLEM, THIS IS GOING TO MAKE THAT WORSE.

AND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SEE THE EFFECTS OF THIS NOW.

YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THE EFFECTS OF THIS DOWNSTREAM IN A YEAR OR TWO.

YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THE EFFECTS OF THIS, THIS COMING SUMMER WITH LINES GETTING INTO NATIONAL PARKS FOR EXAMPLE, THE MOST POPULAR ONES.

THEN YOU ARE GOING TO START TO SEE SOME MORE FALLOUT FROM THIS.

AND I WOULD SAY TO MORGAN'S POINT, TOO.

FROM A POLITICAL STANDPOINT, AND I'VE WATCHED SOME OF THE DEMOCRATS EMPHASIZE THIS.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET HARDLY ANY TRACTION BY POINTING OUT THE DIFFICULTIES IN THE LIVES OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WHO NO LONGER HAVE JOBS.

THE PUBLIC DOESN'T CARE BY AND LARGE.

THE APPROVAL RATINGS OF CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE, YOU KNOW, LUCKY IF THEY REACH 20%.

SO THERE IS JUST NOT GOING TO BE A LOT OF TEARS SHED OVER THAT.

THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE A LOT OF TEARS SHED OVER HARVARD UNIVERSITY AND THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE A LOT OF TEARS SHED OVER THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE.

>> THERE ARE PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS THAT YOU RAISED WITH REGARDS TO VISITING A NATIONAL PARK.

AND SENATOR IN ALASKA MADE A BIG DEAL THEY HAVE ONE PERSON LEFT AT THIS VERY POPULAR SPOT THAT IS GOING TO GET THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE SUMMER AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE OVERWHELMED AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FEEL THAT HURT.

AND WE HAVE BEEN PRIMARILY TALKING AND WE'LL GET TO YOU IN A EKD.

>> I WAS AT A NATIONAL PARK A FEW DAYS AGO.

WE PAID OUR MONEY TO GO IN AND THE NEXT DAY NOBODY AT THE GATE.

PEOPLE WERE DRIVING IN AND OUT.

>> THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF.

>> LIKE THE BORDER.

>> SO WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FEDERAL SPENDING ON THE WORKFORCE, BUT THERE HAS ALSO BEEN AN TO CUT FEDERAL SUPPORT TO NON-PROFITS.

AND ON THAT NOTE, I WANT TO PIVOT TO A TOPIC THAT IS RESONATING AROUND THE COUNTRY AND RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK SPECIFICALLY, AND THAT IS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S IMPACT ON NON-PROFITS, AND ORGANIZATIONS SERVING IMMIGRANTS SPECIFICALLY.

WCNY PRODUCER ALEC AMBRUSO HAS THAT STORY.

SPECIFICALLY WITH THE FRON PROFITS THAT ARE SERVING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.

>> RICE, IT REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT SELF EMPOWERMENT, WHAT IS IT STANDS FOR AND IT SERVES REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANT POM LAYINGS IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE WHO CAME TO THIS COUNTRY LEGALLY THROUGH THE REFUGEE PROCESS AND HAS GONE THROUGH THE RIG DOES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SCREENINGING AND BACKGROUND CHECKS BEFOR HERE.

EMPLOYMENT BEING THE MAIN THING BECAUSE OUR ORGANIZATION SPEAKS FOR GLTS PRESIDENT TRUMP GOT THE BALL ROLLING ON DEFUNDING WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION SEES AS PROBLEMATIC NGOS WITH THE FEBRUARY 6 MEMO ORDERING A REVIEW OF ALL NGO FUNDING WITH THE STATED GOAL, TO STOP FUNDING NGOS THAT UNDERMINE THE NATIONAL INTEREST.

THE MEMO ALSO SAYS THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, MANY OF WHICH ARE ENGAGED IN ACTIONS THAT ACTIVELY UNDERMINE THE SECURITY, PROSPERITY AND SAFETY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

>> WITH THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS COMING IN AFTER THE JANUARY 20, IT HAS IMPACTED OUR ORGANIZATION IN TERMS OF FUNDING BECAUSE OUR SETTLEMENT PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUSPENDED OR TERMINATED.

AS AN ORGANIZATION, CLOSE TO $DID MILLION-- $2 MILLION WAS WE LOST.

WE KNOW WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMMUNITY FOR-- WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RECOVER THAT MUCH.

WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT IS FOR US TO MAKE SURE THE FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO STAY IN THEIR HOUSE AND PAY RENT AND PAY THEIR FOOD AND THE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE.

WE ALSO LOST A LOT OF STAFF MEMBERS.

VERY COMPETENT, SKILLED WELL TRAINED STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE VERY KIND AND GENERAL RUSS, NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, WITH THEIR TIME AND TALENT, BUT EVERYTHING.

>> HOW MANY STAFF MEMBERS DID RISE EMPLOY BEFORE JANUARY 20?

AND HOW MANY REMAIN?

>> WE HAD ABOUT 55 STAFF MEMBERS AND WE LOST 23 STAFF MEMBERS.

YES.

>> THE FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS CERTAINLY HAVE AFFECTED VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT, IN PARTICULAR, IT HAS REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF STAFF THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE IN OUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM THIS YEAR.

>> IT'S GOING TO RESULT IF TWO ATTORNEYS BEING LAID OFF AND WE HAD HOPED TO HIRE AT LEAST ONE MORE LEGAL ASSISTANT IF NOT TWO MORE LEGAL ASSISTANTS.

I THINK THE PART THAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT FOR OUR IMMIGRANT CLIENTS IS THAT THERE IS JUST SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY RIGHT NOW.

SO AND THAT'S EVEN TRUE FOR US GIVING ADVICE, YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST, IF A CLIENT WAS IN AN ASYLUM APPLICATION PROCESS, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SAY, OH YOU KNOW, YOU DO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THIS OR DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT.

AND NOW SORT OF EVERYTHING HAS BEEN THROWN UP IN THE AIR.

IT JUST MAKES IT SO THAT ANYBODY WHO IS NOT A U.S. CITIZEN HAS TO BE SO MUCH MORE MINDFUL ABOUT THEIR SPEECH THAT THEY PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT WAS PROTECTED , MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE COMPLYING WITH ALL OF THE NEW RULES AND REGULATIONS AND POLICIES AS THEY COME OUT.

>> AS AN ORGANIZATION AND ALSO MYSELF AS A FORMER REFUGEE MYSELF, AND WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE SOME MORAL OBLIGATION TO SUPPORT THESE PEOPLE, AND WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY.

SO THE ORGANIZATION WILL CONTINUE TO RISE, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE FAMILIES THAT CAME IN THROUGH THE LEGAL PROCESS, SO THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG.

SO THEY CAME HERE AND NOW FOR US TO WALK AWAY FROM THEM, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND THIS COMMUNITY REFUSED FOR THAT TO HAPPEN AND THE SYRACUSE COMMUNITY.

>> SO, KEVIN, THAT'S A SNAPSHOT OF SOME OF THE SERVICES HERE IN SYRACUSE THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED AND NATIONALLY SOME OF THE DATA I'VE SEEN SHOWS THAT IN JUST OVER TWO MONTHS, 10,000 NON-PROFIT WORKERS HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS.

THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHILE WE THINK OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BEING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PROVIDING SOME OF THE SERVICES, THEY'RE ACTUALLY BEING DONE BY NON-PROFITS.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS SORT OF WAR, SO TO SPEAK, ON NON-PROFITS WHICH INCLUDES POTENTIALLY TRYING TO GO AFTER THE TAX EXEMPT STATUS FOR SOME OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS?

>> I WOULDN'T CHARACTERIZE IT AS A WAR ON NON-PROFITS.

I THINK I WOULD CHARACTERIZE IT AS A SCIRNLISH AGAINST GOVERNMENT SPENDING, A SKIRMISH.

HE MENTIONED IF YOU LOOK AT THE TRACK OF GOVERNMENT SPENDING, HOW MUCH IT HAS INCREASED WHILE EMPLOYMENT HAS REMAINED FLAT.

THAT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT ENTITLEMENT SPENDING IN THIS COUNTRY AND IT NEEDS TO BE REINED IN.

AND I THINK-- >> LIKE HEALTHCARE AND LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY AS OPPOSED TO SPENDING ON A LEGAL SERVICES NON-PROFIT?

>> BUT IF THE GOVERNMENT DOESN'T HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL TO REIN IN SOCIAL SECURITY AND HEALTHCARE SPENDING CUTS HAVE TO BE MADE SOMEWHERE.

WE CAN'T KEEP GOING DOWN THIS COURSE OR WE ARE GOING TO BE BANKRUPT AS A NATION.

CUTS HAVE TO BE MADE.

AND FOR EVERY VIDEO THAT YOU SHOW ABOUT LOCAL NON-PROFITS HARPED BY THIS, THERE ARE PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR SPENDING OR LOADED PROGRAMS THAT SHOULD BE CUT.

BUT IF YOU ARE GOING TO LOOK AT , TWO I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS OF RISE OR LEGAL SERVICES OF CENTRAL NEW YORK OR THE PROGRAMS UNDER WHICH THEY GOT THEIR FUNDING.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, GOVERNMENT SPENDING NEEDS TO BE CUT.

I THINK THE POINT HE MADE EARLIER, REALISTICALLY AS WE SAID, TRUMP IS MOVING QUICKLY BECAUSE HE ONLY HAS FOUR YEARS.

CONSTITUTIONALLY HE CAN'T RUN AGAIN.

HE IS TRYING TO MAKE AS MUCH OF AN IMPACT AS HE CAN IN THIS TERM BEFORE HE BECOMES A LAME DUCK AND STARTS WINDING DOWN IN THE RUNUP TO 2028.

AGAIN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A PRESIDENT WHO HAS BEEN IN THE WHITE HOUSE BEFORE AND SO KNOWS HOW TO TARGET SPECIFIC AREAS TO IMPLEMENT HIS AGENDA AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE ARE SEEING.

>> MORGAN, DOES IT SEEM LYING TARGETED CUTS TO CUT SPENDING.

>> I'M GOING TO PUSH BACK ON THE IDEA THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CARES ABOUT GOVERNMENT SPENDING OR CARES ABOUT THE DEFICIT.

BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE HEARD HERE RECENTLY.

OH WELL, DOGE IS DOING ALL THIS AND LOOK AT OUR DEBT BUT THEY'RE GOING TO PUSH FOR THE TRUMP TATS AND THE TAX CUTS HAVE DONE MORE TO EXPLODE THE FEDERAL DEFICIT.

>> THE 2016 TAX CUTS.

>> THAT'S ONE EFFORT MAIN THINGS THAT THEY HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT THEY WANT TO DO.

MORE GENERALLY, I THINK IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT POLLING, IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SORT OF THE POLITICAL DAMAGE AND REELECTION DAMAGE AND THE MID TERMS THAT ARE COMING UP, I THINK YOU ARE CORRECT.

LIKE NOBODY IS CRYING FOR GOVERNMENT WORKERS.

WHEN YOU HEAR IT AT LARGE WOW THEY'RE GOING AFTER SLASHING GOVERNMENT SPEND SPENDING, THAT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE POPULAR.

WHERE IT REALLY STARTS TO MATTER IS ON THE LOCAL LEVEL LIKE THAT PACKAGE WE JUST SAW.

OR IF YOUR NEIGHBOR GETS FIRED, YOUR NEIGHBOR WHO VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP AND BY THE SAY WHILE SURE WE ALL HAVE EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP AND HAVE NOW LOST THEIR GOVERNMENT JOB BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T-- THAT'S JUST NOT HOW PEOPLE THINK.

THEY THINK I'M GOING THE VOTE FOR THIS GUY.

HE IS GOING TO CHANGE THINGS.

I LIKE HOW HE TALKS.

AND THEN THREE MONTHS LATER, THEY DON'T HAVE A JOB.

AND THAT IS WHERE IT IMPACTS AN ELECTION, I THINK.

NOT WHEN-- YOU DON'T NEED A DEMOCRAT TO DEFEND GOVERNMENT WORKERS.

YOU NEED A FEW THOUSAND PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICT TO LOSE THEIR JOB BECAUSE THEY GOT FIRED BY ELON MUSK AND THEN THEY TELL THEIR NEIGHBORS AND THEIR NEIGHBORS ARE LIKE HOLY COW, WHAT ARE WE DOING?

MY NEIGHBOR LOST THEIR GOOD SAFE GOVERNMENT JOB BECAUSE OF ELON MUSK.

I'M NOT VOTING FOR THIS PARTY.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE REAL POLITICAL DAMAGE HAPPENS ON A FAR MORE LOCAL LEVEL WHEN PEOPLE FEEL THIS AND IT'S MORE REAL TO THEM AND THEIR NEIGHBORS.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS A BIGGER DEAL.

THE FUNDING CUTS TO NON-PROFITS HERE IN AMERICA OR WHAT WE ARE SEEING ACROSS THE WORLD IN TERMS OF THE U.S.

TRYING TO LIMIT ITS FOREIGN AID, FOREIGN AID I SHOULD SAY ACCOUNTS FOR I THINK LESS THAN 1% OF THE BUDGET.

>> THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION.

I THINK POLITICALLY PROBABLY MORE THE DOMESTIC SIDE, I WOULD THINK, WOULD HAVE MORE OF AN IMPACT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND THIS IS WHERE THE ELIMINATION OF THE U.S. U.S. AID SPEAKS TO.

THERE HAS BEEN AN ISOLATIONIST STREAK IN THE AMERICAN POLITICAL PSYCHE GOING BACK TO THE FOUNDING.

SUSPICION OF OUTSIDE COUNTRIES AND CONCERN THAT SOMEHOW, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO KEEP OURSELVES AT ARM'S LENGTH FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD EVEN THOUGH WE ARE A SUPER POWER SO IT'S AN INCREDIBLE PARADOX.

BUT I THINK THE THINGS DOMESTICALLY WILL HAVE MORE OF AN EFFECT.

AND I JUST NEED TO SAY RS, AS FAR AS THE CLICK THAT I SAW, HAVE I TO MAKE A DISCLAIMER.

I HAVE WORKED WITH BOTH OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS TRYING TO PUT INTERNS IN, SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WORKING FOR THEM AND THERE IS ANOTHER ONE THAT CAN I THINK OF, TOO, THAT DOES THE SAME KIND OF WORK AS RISE, INTERFAITH WORKS.

AND I'M MORE FAMILIAR WITH INTERFAITH WORKS.

HERE IS WHAT CONCERNS ME FOR THAT ORGANIZATION.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO THEY MADE A DECISION TO MAKE, AS ONE OF THEIR PRIORITIES, THE THEME OF RACIAL JUSTICE, DEFINITELY HAS A DEI COMPONENT TO IT.

I IMAGINE THAT THAT WILL BE SINGLED OUT TO THE DEGREE THAT ANYBODY IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS LOOKING FOR THINGS LIKE THAT AS A REASON TO CUT FUNDING.

SO TO THE DEGREE THAT THESE NON-PROFITS HAVE GONE IN THAT DIRECTION, THAT WOULD BE A CONCERN FOR ME IN TERMS OF THE KIND OF MONEY THAT WILL STILL BE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

>> WELL, HE BRINGS UP DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION WHICH HAS BEEN A HALLMARK OF THE TRUMP FIRST 100 DAYS HERE BACK IN OFFICE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PRESIDENT HAS TO SHOW ON THAT FRONT THAT YOU THINK HAS BEEN POSITIVE FOR THE COUNTRY 1234.

>> I THINK THAT HE HAS BROUGHT ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE THAT TOO MANY PEOPLE DEI HAS GONE TOO FAR IN THIS COUNTRY MUCH.

>> IN WHAT WAY?

>> THE PRESIDENT BLAMED DEI ON AIRPLANE TRAFFIC DEATHS, WHICH ISN'T TRUE.

TALK TO US ABOUT THE SUBSTANTIVE VERIFICATION.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CAME FROM PT BUT SUBSTANTIVELY, I THINK IT IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE THAT YOU WOULD ALLOW BIOLOGICAL MALES TO PLAY IN WOMEN'S SPORTS.

HOW MANY HAVE TO BE INJURED TO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S APPROPRIATE.

I MEAN THERE IS.

THERE ARE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO GENDERS AND TO EXPECT WOMEN, BIOLOGICAL FEMALES TO COMPETE AGAINST MALES IS UNFAIR.

WE SAY JOKINGLY, UNDER DEI, DO I GET TO PLAY FOR THE RED TEES WHENY PLAY GOLF OR FROM THE WHITE TEES WHERE MEN TYPICALLY PLAY FROM.

>> THAT'S YOUR PERSONAL LIFE AND WHEREVER YOU WANT TO SHOOT FROM, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO DO.

MORGAN ANY THOUGHTS ON THE FOCUS DEI FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION?

>> SO I ACTUALLY SPEND A LOT OF TIME, I THINK AS A DEMOCRAT, RIGHT, AS SOMEONE WHO IS VERY MUCH SURPRISED BY 2016 AND SORT OF RELUCTANT TOLY ACCEPTING OF-- RELUCTANTLY ACCEPTING OF 2024.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE COLLECTIVELY DONE IS LOOK INWARD AND ALSO-- ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK DEMOCRATS SHOULD BE DOING TRYING TO LISTEN TO TRUMP VOTERS AND REALLY LISTEN TO THEM Y.

DID PEOPLE VOTE FOR TRUMP?

AND MAYBE THIS ISN'T THE BEST WAY THAT I'VE DECIDED TO GO ABOUT DOING THIS BUT I HAVE TAKEN TO READING A LOT OF OPINION PIECES FROM CONSERVATIVES IN THE NEW YORK TIMES AND THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.

WHAT IS THE CONSERVATIVE MIND SET OF WHY THIS, THE TRANSITION IS GOOD.

I'M BRINGING THIS BACK.

>> CONSERVATIVE AND NEW YORK TIMES, I THOUGHT, WOW.

>> THERE ARE A FEW AND THEY'RE GOOD WRITERS.

ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS I'VE HEARD IN FAVOR OF THE ELIMINATION OF DEI IS THAT IT BECOMES A MERIT-BASED SYSTEM.

HIGHER EDUCATION, FOR EXAMPLE, IT IS PEOPLE WHO, IF YOU ELIMINATE DEI YOU ARE PURELY, I GUESS LETTING IN STUDENTS ON A MERIT-BASED SYSTEM.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT ARGUMENT.

I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY SOMEONE WOULD SUPPORT THAT.

AND I CAN ALSO UNDERSTAND TO YOUR POINT WHY SOMEONE COULD SEE DEI HAVING GONE TOO FAR IF YOU BELIEVE THAT MERIT IS NOT THE NUMBER ONE DECIDER OF HOW PEOPLE GET A POSITION OR HOW THEY GET LET INTO COLLEGE AND THAT KIND OF THING.

THE ONE THING I WILL SAY TO THAT IS AGAIN, I FIND IT'S THE HYPOCRISY OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WHICH IS FINE.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO ELIMINATE DEI BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE IN A MERIT-BASED SYSTEM, GREAT.

BUT THEN YOU LOOK AT THE PEOPLE HE HAS APPOINTED TO HIS CABINET AND THESE ARE THE MOST UNQUALIFIED PEOPLE IMAGINABLE.

I MEAN PETE HEGSETH, FOR EXAMPLE,-- >> SECRETARY OF DEFENSE.

>> IS SENDING BASICALLY TEXT MESSAGES TO HIS WIFE THAT HAVE TOP SECRET MILITARY PLANS, LIKE HOW DOES THIS GUY HAVE HIS JOB?

IS THAT A MERIT-BASED THING OR A GUY HE SAW ON FOX AND FRIENDS AND HE REALLY WANTED TO APPOINT HIM.

SO AGAIN, IT'S JUST LIKE THE HYPOCRISY OF WE ARE DOING THIS THING FOR THIS VERY NOBLE CAUSE BUT THEN WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THESE ACTIONS THAT DON'T LINE UP AT ALL WITH THE-- THE RIGHT HAND IS NOT TALKING TO THE LEFT WHICH MAKES ME BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO PLAN.

>> KEVIN, DO YOU WANT TO RESPOND?

>> YOU CAN'T COMPARE THE APPOINTMENTS OF THE CABINET AS BEING A DEI THING BECAUSE THE SOLE CRITERIA FOR BEING APPOINTED TO THE CABINET IS YOU SERVE THE PLEASURE OF THE PRESIDENT WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE WHERE DEI BECOMES A PROBLEM IS WHEN STANDARDS ARE REDUCED TO ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENT GROUPS TO GET POSITIONS OR ADMISSION INTO CERTAIN SCHOOLS.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE STRRGS IS FOCUSED ON-- ADMINISTRATION ON.

I'M NOT GOING TO DEFEND PETE HEGSETH JUST LIKE I WON'T DEFEND ANY ADMINISTRATION'S APPOINTMENTS IF THEY'RE UNQUALIFIED.

>> YOU THINK HE IS UNQUALIFIED.

>> I DIDN'T SAY HE WAS UNQUALIFIED.

HE HAS HEAD WINDS ABOUT HIS COMMUNICATION STRATEGY, BUT THAT'S NOT FOR ME TO DECIDE MUCH THAT'S FOR THE PRESIDENT TO DECIDE WHEN AND IF HE BECOMES A LIABILITY AND WHETHER IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON OR NOT.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> JUST KNOW THAT, AS ELISE STEFANIK RECENTLY LEARNED-- >> NORTH COUNTRY CONGRESSWOMAN.

>> STILL NORTH COUNTRY CONGRESSWOMAN, IF YOU ARE VERY, VERY LOYAL TO DONALD TRUMP AND YOU GO INTO HIS CABINET, YOU ARE PROBABLY GOING TO END IT WITH BEING HUMILIATED BY HIM LIKE BEING FIRED OVER A TWEET OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO ELISE STEFANIK LEARNED THAT THE HARD WAY.

PETE HEGSETH WILL LEARN THAT THE HARD WAY WHETHER HE BECOMES TOO MUCH POLITICAL BAGGAGE AND HE WILL BE CUT.

ALL OF THESE LOYALISTS WHO GOT THEIR JOBS BECAUSE THEY'RE LOYALISTS WILL MEET THE SAME END THAT MOST OF HIS APPOINTEES MEET.

>> THAT WILL BE OUR NEXT 100 DAY EPISODE BUT GRANT... >> AS THE ACADEMIC, I NEED TO WEIGH IN ON THIS BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF DEI CONVERSATION HAS BEEN FOCUSED THERE AND CERTAINLY THE ISSUE WITH HARVARD UNIVERSITY.

THIS IS A COMPLICATED ONE AND I THINK THAT THERE IS A THERE THERE FOR THE CONCERN ABOUT DEI.

HAVE I TO CHOOSE MY WORDS VERY CAREFULLY IN CASE SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE WATCHING.

THERE IS A THERE THERE AND IT IS NOT SO MUCH ON WHO GETS HIRED BUT WHAT THIS EMPHASIS HAS DONE TO THE CULTURE AND PARTICULARLY THE CULTURE IN CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF OCCUPATIONS, ACADEMICS BEING ONE OF THEM.

THERE IS A VERY GOOD BOOK THAT WAS WRITTEN ON THIS RECENTLY THAT'S GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION CALLED WE HAVE NEVER BEEN WOKE AND WOULD I RECOMMEND IT.

IT IS A VERY DEEP DIVE INTO THIS, VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING.

BUT THE ISSUE IS WHAT YOU HAVE-- WHAT YOU ARE SEEING-- AND I THINK THE PUBLIC HAS AN AWARENESS OF THIS-- IS THAT IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND IN CERTAIN OTHER OCCUPATIONS, THERE IS A HEMOGENEAITY OF VIEWPOINT.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES GENERALLY IN THE COUNTRY CERTAINLY THOSE CONCENTRATED IN THE NORTHEAST AND ON THE TWO COASTS, AND THEN A LOT OF STATE UNIVERSITIES AS WELL.

THERE IS CLEARLY A HOMOGENAITY OF VIEWPOINT.

AT THE MAXWELL SCHOOL I WOULD BE STUNNED IF THERE WERE MORE THAN TWO REGISTERED REPUBLICANS ON THE FACULTY, OKAY?

SO THAT IN ITSELF IS A PROBLEM.

AND SO THAT, I THINK IS WHAT THIS SPEAKS TO.

THERE IS ALSO A SENSE THAT CERTAIN KINDS OF QUESTIONS ARE OUT OF BOUNDS.

CERTAIN KINDS OF FACTS THAT YOU BRING UP ARE CONSIDERED OUT OF BOUNDS AND YOU ARE NO LONGER ON SIDE AND YOU ARE SUSPECT.

THERE IS A REAL PROBLEM THERE.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU THROW OUT THE ENTIRE CONCERN ABOUT RACIAL INEQUITIES AND GENDER INEQUITIES AND CONCERNS ABOUT JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS.

SO I THINK THE GOOD THING ABOUT THE EMPHASIS ON DEI IS PERHAPS RESETTING THE CONVERSATION DOWN THE ROAD.

IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN UNTIL TRUMP IS OUT OF OFFICE.

BUT AT SOME POINT, I THINK WE DO NEED TO HAVE OR START HAVING MORE RATIONAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS.

>> UNFORTUNATELY WE COULD DO A WHOLE EPISODE ON THAT.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT TIME AND WE HAVE GONE 40 PLUS MINUTES WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT TARIFFS SO I'VE DONE A DERELICTION IN TERMS OF A HOST.

WE HAVE TARIFFS ARE ON, OFF, THEY'RE BACK ON AGAIN.

THERE ARE LOOPHOLES IN TARIFFS, EVERYONE IS COVERED, RUSSIA IS THE NOT COVERED.

PENGUINS ARE COVERED.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE ROLLOUT OF TARIFFS AND EMPHASIS ON TARIFFS, WHAT DOES IT SEEM LIKE THE PRESIDENT HAS ACCOMPLISHED AND WHAT DOES IT SEEM LIKE THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO ACCOMPLISH BECAUSE THERE ARE A COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS THERE.

WE'RE WE TRYING TO GET REVENUE FROM TARIFFS IN THE FUTURE, ARE WE TRYING TO BRING BACK AMERICAN MANUFACTURING OR OUR GLOBAL INFLUENCE?

TAKE IT ANY DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GO IN.

>> HAVE YOU TO SEE INSIDE THE MIND OF SOMEONE, AS MORGAN HAS POINTED OUT, IS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

I THINK WHAT THE PRESIDENT AND THE ADMINISTRATION WANT ARE BETTER DEALS IN TERMS OF TRADE AROUND THE WORLD.

>> FAIR DEALS.

>> BETTER DEALS AND THERE IS A POINT TO BE MADE ABOUT THAT.

BUT THE WAY THEY'RE GOING ABOUT IT, POLITICALLY, I WOULD SAY, IS A DISASTER AND THAT'S WHY YOU ARE SEEING THE ADMINISTRATION PULL BACK FROM THESE THINGS.

I MEAN IT'S CLEAR THAT THE POLITICAL FALLOUT HAS BEEN REAL.

THE BIG PROBLEM HERE IS THAT THE STK IRONICALLY AND-- STOCK MARKET IRONICALLY AND THE STOCK MARKET HAS INVESTMENTS OF THE PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE-CLASS AND UPPER MIDDLE-CLASS BECAUSE THEY NO LONGER HAVE PENSION PLANS.

THEY HAVE 401(K) PLANS, THEY HAVE DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS, NOT DEFINE BENEFIT PLANS.

I'M ONE OF THEM.

SO YOU LOOK AT THAT MARKET GOING UP AND DOWN AND MOVING BY THREE, 4%, IN A GIVEN DAY AND IT SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF YOU.

>> YOU WILL HAVE TO TEACH ANOTHER YEAR.

>> THAT'S THE JOKE I HAVE WITH MY WIFE.

IT'S JUST LIKE, WHEN MY RETIREMENT AGE IS JUST GOING UP AND DOWN.

SO THE PROBLEM IS THAT THAT KIND OF UNCERTAINTY REALLY RATTLES PEOPLE.

IT RATTLES THE MARKETS AND THAT DAMAGE HAS BEEN REAL.

AND SO I ALWAYS THOUGHT AT THE BEGINNING WHEN HE WAS DOING THIS, THAT THIS WOULD BE THE THING POLITICALLY THAT MIGHT KILL HIM AND I THINK THAT LESSON IS BEING LEARNED AND THEY'RE PULLING BACK FROM THAT NOW.

>> KEVIN, UPSTATE NEW YORK HAS A HISTORY OF MANUFACTURING AND SYRACUSE HAS POTENTIALLY A BRIGHT FUTURE IN HIGH TECH MANUFACTURING.

SO WHAT DO YOU SEE RIGHT NOW WITH REGARDS TO THE TRUMP EFFORT TO IMPOSE TARIFFS MORE BROADLY AND THE WAY THEY HAVE BEEN ROLLING OUT THE POLICIES?

>> BEFORE I ANSWER THAT, I WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT HE SAID ABOUT DEI AND UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS.

I THINK IT TAKES AN OFFICIAL LIKE DONALD TRUMP WHO IS UNTIED TO THE BUREAUCRACY, TO HAVE THE UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS SO WE CAN ADDRESS THE ISSUES.

THAT'S ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF HAVING TRUMP IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> I WISH HIS LANGUAGE WOULD BE DIFFERENT IN TALKING ABOUT IT BUT GO AHEAD.

>> AGREE ON THAT.

BUT, IN TERMS OF TARIFFS.

I COME FROM THIS FROM AN INTERESTING PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE I JUST FINISHED A 10-YEAR TERM ON THE BOARD OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, THE AGENCY BRINGING MICRON INTO COMMUNITY AND I APPLAUD THE EFFORTS OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION IN DOING THAT.

BUT THAT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT PARTNERSHIPS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL SO WE WILL ALSO GIVE CRED TO IT SCHUMER FOR GETTING THAT DONE AS WELL.

BUT I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT TRUMP'S HISTORY GOING BACK TO THE 80s, HE TALKED ABOUT ABOUT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT AND HE HAS SAID HISTORICALLY THAT HE THINKS THIS COUNTRY IS GETTING RIPPED OFF FROM ITS TRADE DEAL AND I THINK ANYBODY WHO HAS FOLLOWED HIS CAREER COULD PREDICT THAT TRYING TO GET BETTER TRADE DEALS FOR THIS COUNTRY WOULD ALWAYS BE AN IMPERATIVE OF HIS ADMINISTRATION AND I THINK THE DEAL MAKER IN DONALD TRUMP, THE NEW YORK CITY REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER, WHAT THEE PROBABLY HATES MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IS COMING OUT ON THE LOSING SIDE OF A DEAL.

SO IF HE THINKS THIS COUNTRY IS GETTING RIPPED OFF, HE IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

CAN IT BE OVER DONE?

CAN IT BE DO THAN MORE SELECTIVELY OR MORE TARGETED?

SURE.

BUT AGAIN I THINK WHAT HE IS TRYING TO DO IS TO RESET THIS COUNTRY'S TRADE POLICY SO THAT WE HAVE FAIR TRADE WITH OUR TRADING PARTNERS.

I THINK THAT FOR A GENERATION, EVEN LONGER THAN THAT, GOING BACK TO THE END OF WOORLD, THIS KUN WORLD WAR II THIS COUNTRY HAS USED TRADE POLICY TO FOSTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THE JOB SIMILAR TO THE WAY WE USE TAX POLICY.

THE GOVERNMENT USES TAX POLICY TO GIVE BENEFITS TO CERTAIN AREAS OF THE INDUSTRY THAT IT WANTS TO SUCCEED.

I THINK THIS COUNTRY IS GIVING TRADE DEALS TO COUNTRIES THAT NEEDED DEVELOPMENT.

BUT I MEAN THE NOTION THAT CHINA COULD STILL BE CONSIDERED A DEVELOPING NATION WHEN THEY'RE THE NUMBER TWO ECONOMY IN THE WORLD?

IT'S TIME FOR A RESET.

I THINK WE NEED FAIR TRADE WITH CHINA AND I THINK IF PUTTING TARIFFS ON CHINA, I THINK IS APPROPRIATE.

SHORT-TERM OBVIOUSLY THERE WILL BE PAIN BUT LONG-TERM HE WANTS TO ON SHORE MANUFACTURING SO WE CAN BRING MORE JOBS BACK TO THIS COUNTRY.

I REMEMBER THE EARLY 90S WHEN WE HAD THE DEBATE OVER NAFTA.

PEOPLE THOUGHT IF YOU PUT NAFTA IN, WE WILL LOSE AMERICAN MANUFACTURING.

WE LOST AMERICAN FFER MANUFACTURING AND THIS IS A REACTION TO THAT.

COULD HE BE DOING IT MORE SELECTIVELY?

SURE HE CAN.

HOPEFULLY AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WILL SEE THE BENEFITS OF WHAT HE IS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> MORGAN, WHAT DOES FAIR TRADE LOOK LIKE?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE RIPPED OFF?

DOES IT MEAN PURCHASING CHEAP SMART PHONES, CHEAP CLOTHES?

>> YOU ARE ASKING ME?

>> YEAH.

>> I NEVER EVEN TOOK AN ECONOMICS CLASS.

>> THERE IS A DISCUSSION ABOUT AMERICA GETTING RIPPED OFF IN ITS TRADE DEALS BUT I THINK ABOUT THE CURRENT STATUS QUO AND IT MEANS THAT WE ARE NOT PRODUCING I PHONES IN AMERICA.

WE ARE ABLE TO BUY PHONES FOR RELATIVELY CHEAP COMPARED TO HAVING THEM MADE HERE.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE CURRENT ROLLOUT AND IS THERE SOME SORT OF PROMISED LAND THAT MAKES SENSE?

>> WHAT I DO THINK AND BOTH OF YOU HAVE TOUCHED ON IT AND I DO THINK THAT IT IS-- I THINK DONALD TRUMP IS UNIQUELY-- GOSH, SHOULD I SAY TALENTED-- HIS ABILITY TO JUST SAY WHAT HE WANTS, I THINK, IS SOMETHING THAT IS SO OUT OF THE NORM IN POLITICS.

I DON'T MEAN IN THE BAD WAY-- I SEE THE FACE YOU ARE MAKING-- I DON'T MEAN IN A BAD WAY AND BOTH OF YOU MENTIONED IT.

THERE ARE CERTAIN CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU JUST WERE THIRD RAIL IN POLITICS FOR EITHER REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS.

AND HE DOESN'T CARE AND HE WILL JUST GO OUT AND SAY WHATEVER HE WANTS.

NOW AGAIN I THINK HE IS ALL OVER THE MAP AND SAYS WHATEVER HE WANTS ON A VARIETY OF THINGS INCLUDING DEEPLY INAPPROPRIATE THINGS.

BUT THE TRADE, AND YOU MENTION NAFTA AND THE TRADE DEALS WE HAVE AND THE SORT OF THE WAY THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS CHANGED FROM BEING A COUNTRY THAT MADE THINGS TO A COUNTRY THAT SORT OF DOESN'T MAKE THINGS-- I'M STEALING A LINE FROM "THE WIRE" I THINK THAT'S REAL AND PEOPLE FEEL THAT IN A WAY THAT THEY CAN'T ARTICULATE.

VOTERS FEEL THAT IN A WAY THAT THEY CAN'T ARTICULATE NECESSARILY.

I THINK THAT 2024 AND TO SOME DEGREE, 2016, AND SORT OF THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF VOTERS, IT IS ABOUT GOVERNMENT DOESN'T WORK FOR ME.

LIKE NONE OF THIS IS WORKING FOR ME.

WHAT ABOUT ME?

WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME TALKING ABOUT THIS SORT OF IDEA OF THINGS AS OPPOSED TO LOWERING THE COST OF LIVING, OPPOSED TO MAKING HOUSING AFFORDABLE.

WHY ISN'T ANYONE DOING THOSE THINGS?

>> I JUMP IN ON THAT?

>> SURE.

>> WHY ARE YOU CANNING HIM?

HIM THE HOST-- WHY ARE YOU ASKING HIM?

I'M THE HOST.

>> IT TIES BACK INTO THE TARIFFS BUT WHERE WE EVERYBODY AS A COUNTRY IN THE LAST 40, 50 YEARS.

IT'S CLEAR THAT THE MOVE TOWARDS A GLOBALIZED ECONOMY HAS CHANGED THE STRUCTURE OF THE ECONOMY IN THE UNITED STATES IN A WAY THAT HAS INCREASED ECONOMIC INEQUALITY HERE DRAMATICALLY.

THE TOP HAS HAD A GREAT RIDE UP.

CHANNELING BERNIE SANDERS HERE BUT THE TOP HAS HAD A GREAT RIDE UP AND THE MIDDLE-CLASSES HAVE REALLY STRUGGLED TO TRUNDLE ALONG AT THE SAME LEVEL WITHOUT THE JOB SECURITY AND BENEFIT SECURITY THEY HAD 40 OR 50 YEARS AGO AND THAT'S THE GROUP THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING FOR ME?

AND THIS IS WHERE DONALD TRUMP COMES IN IN 2016 AND 202024. , THAT HE HEARS THAT.

HE UNDERSTANDS THAT.

AND HE HAS VILLAINS THAT HE CAN POINT OUT FOR THIS AND SOLUTIONS THAT HE CAN POINT TO.

BUT THE REAL PROBLEM IS THAT THESE FOLKS DO NOT FEEL LIKE GOVERNMENT REALLY HAS SEEN WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO DOES UNDERSTAND THIS AND HAS IDEAS FOR THINGS TO DO ABOUT IT.

AND NOT TO TRY TO TIE TOO MANY THINGS IN BUT THAT'S PART AND PARCEL WHY THE DEI CONVERSATION GETS TRACTION BECAUSE THEY SEE THAT AS, YOU CARE, YOU BEING GOVERNMENT, CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THESE MINORITY GROUPS BUT YOU ARE NOT SEEING MY TROUBLES.

>> MORGAN, IS IT OKAY IF I TAKE THINGS BACK?

>> GO AHEAD.

>> I WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH THIS IDEA OF TARIFFS AND THINK ABOUT OUR ROLE IN THE WORLD MORE BROADLY AND WE HAVE SEEN THE DIMINISHED FOCUS ON FOREIGN AID, WE HAVE SEEN THE WAY WE APPROACH SOME OF OUR TRADITIONAL ALLIES AND I WONDER WHETHER YOU THINK THAT OUR POSITION IN THE WORLD IS DEMONSTRABLY DIFFERENT AFTER 100 DAYS OF THIS LATEST ADMINISTRATION?

>> WELL, THE LEADERS AROUND THE WORLD, THE OTHER COUNTRIES, KNEW WHAT THEY WERE GETTING WHEN DONALD TRUMP GOT ELECTED AGAIN.

SO I THINK THERE IS THAT.

CERTAINLY, I THINK THE WAY HE HAS APPROACHED STRATEGIC ALLIANCES, IS NOT HELPFUL TO OUR COUNTRY OR THE WORLD; HOWEVER, I DO NOT THINK THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, NATO IS ON LIFE SUPPORT OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE.

I THINK SOME OF THE CONCERNS HAVE BEEN EXAGGERATED AND IT'S A GOOD THING THAT THE COUNTRIES IN WESTERN EUROPE ARE GOING TO BE SPENDING MORE ON THEIR OWN SECURITY AND ON THEIR DEFENSE.

THEY'VE BEEN RIDING ON THE BACKS OF THE UNITED STATES SINCE WORLD WAR II.

SO THOSE ARE ALL GOOD THINGS.

I JUST THINK, AGAIN, LIKE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE LANGUAGE OF DEI, THERE IS A BETTER WAY OF GOING ABOUT MAKING THE CHANGES IN THE WORLD.

>> I HAD TO LAUGH BECAUSE YOU SAID I MADE THE FACE WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT HIS COMMENTS, ESSENTIALLY YOU SAID HE COULDN'T INSULT HIS WAY TO THE PRESIDENCY.

SOUNDED LIKE JEB BUSH WHEN HE SAID THAT IN 2016.

WELL GUESS WHAT?

HE COULD AND HE DID.

>> TWICE.

>> BUT A LOT OF THIS, YOU CALL IT A STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS.

I THINK HE, LOOK AT HIS BACKGROUND AS A DEVELOPER AND DEAL MAKER.

HE TAKES A POSITION, BUT ULTIMATELY SETTLES ON SOMETHING LESS THAN THAT.

SO WHEN YOU START OFF UP HERE AND YOU ULTIMATELY ACCEPT-- YOU STILL COME AWAY WITH WHAT HE CHARACTERIZES AS A WIN.

IT'S STARTING OFF WITH A MORE AGGRESSIVE INITIAL OFFER SO TO PEEK SPEAK.

AND LOOK AT IT WITH TARIFFS.

HOW MANY TIMES HAS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION COME CRAWLING BACK AND PICKING UP THE PHONE SAYING WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS?

WE CAN NEGOTIATE A MORE FAVORABLE TRADE DEAL SO IF HE STARTS OUT WITH THE HIGH TARIFFS, YOU SET SETTLE ON SOMETHING CLOSER TO THE MIDDLE AND YOU HAVE FAIR TRADE.

>> YOU CAN END UP WITH A BETTER DEAL BUT POLITICALLY IF I WERE ADVISING HIM, WAS THE STOCK MARKET AND WITH THE PEOPLE'S 401(K), YOU ARE PLAYING WITH POLITICAL FIRE WHEN YOU DO THAT.

>> SO I'LL GO DEFEND THE REPUBLICANS HERE FOR A MINUTE.

WHY NOT.

[LAUGHTER] >> I THINK, TO YOUR POINT AS WELL, LOOK, THE GUY IS WHO THE GUY IS, RIGHT?

AND IF-- AND I CAN SIT HERE AND YOU CAN SIT HERE AND WE CAN SAY WELL, IF HE JUST DID THIS, BUT NOT THIS PART, HE IS WHO HE IS.

HE IS ABOUT TO BE THE OLDEST PRESIDENT WE HAVE EVER HAD IN THIS COUNTRY, PERIOD.

HE IS I THINK THE OLDEST EVER ELECTED, RIGHT, HE WILL BE-- BY THE END OF THIS TERM HE WILL BE THE OLDEST PRESIDENT THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS EVER HAD.

I LOOKED IT UP ON WIKIPEDIA.

>> BEST GOLFER REGARDLESS WHERE HE TEES OFF FROM.

>> THIS IDEA, THERE HAS LONG BEEN AN IDEA, I THINK IN THE MEDIA AND WITH REPUBLICANS AND WITH DEMOCRATS, THAT OH IF HE JUST CHANGED THIS ONE LITTLE PART, HE IS BECOMING PRESIDENTIAL.

NO, HE IS NOT.

HE IS WHO HE IS.

HE IS NEVER GOING TO CHANGE.

AND I THINK TO SOME DEGREE, IF HE WRANTS TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATION-- IF HE WANTS TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT DEI, IF HE WANTS TO UPROOT THE SYSTEM, THE TARIFF SYSTEM, YOU ARE GETTING THE WHOLE PACKAGE WITH THIS GUY.

THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE ANY MODERATION FROM HIM.

THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE ANY WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THIS PART BUT NOT THIS PART.

IT'S THE WHOLE THING AND THAT'S WAS WE ARE GOING TO GET FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

>> WHY SHOULD HE IF HE WAS PRESIDENTIAL, MODULATED HIS SPEECH, HE WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ELECTED PRESIDENT.

>> HE DOESN'T NEED TO RUN AGAIN SO WHY NOT CHANGE YOUR APPROACH TO BE AS EFFECTIVE AS POSSIBLE IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS IN TERMS OF OR DEALING WITH CONGRESS, AND DEALING WITH WORLD PLAYERS?

>> BUT YOU ARE SEEING A LEARNING CURVE ON THE TARIFFS.

YOU ARE.

I MEAN HE HAS APPROACHED THE TARIFF ISSUE IN THE LAST WEEK OR SO DIFFERENTLY THAN HE HAS DONE ON THE OTHER ISSUES ON THE BORDER, ON CUTTING GOVERNMENT, ON DOGE.

THERE IS A RECOGNITION THAT THERE IS A REAL POTENTIAL POLITICAL DISASTER IF HE DOESN'T.

>> DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT NAT?

>> I AGREE.

THERE IS A LEARNING CURVE THERE AND I THINK HE IS A SMART GUY.

I MEAN HE-- YOU CAN'T CALL HIM A DUMMY.

HE IS GETTING THE JOB DONE AND I THINK THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE RECORD OF SUCCESS IN THE FIRST TERM, AND YOU LOOK AT WHAT HE HAS PROPOSED SO FAR AND WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED, I THINK IT IS A GOOD 100 DAYS.

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE DIFFICULTY THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IS THE FACT THAT HAVE YOU A RESISTANT CONGRESS AND THERE ARE STRUCTURAL HEAD WINDS IN HIS FACE THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO PASS LEGISLATION SO I THINK HE IS DOING WHAT HE PERCEIVES NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET THE COUNTRY TO WHERE HE WANTS TO TAKE IT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS TERM.

I KNOW HE TALKS ANECDOTALLY ABOUT POSSIBLY RUNNING FOR A THIRD TERM.

NOW HE IS GOING TO BE 82 IF HE IS EVEN RUNNING AGAIN AND TO EVEN START THAT PROCESS IS UNTHINKABLE TO ME, BUT... >> YOU GOT 20 SECONDS, MORGAN.

>> THE POLITICS OF THIS IS.

HE HAS FOUR YEARS LEFT.

I DON'T THINK HE IS GOING CHANGE WHO HE IS.

HE IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE HIS STRIPES.

THIS IS WHAT GOTS HIM IN THIS POSITION AND WE ARE GOING TO GET TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

>> WELL, ON THAT NOTE, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE TODAY.

MY THINGS TO OUR PANELISTS BLUE JACKET STRATEGIES PARTNER MORGAN HOOK, SYRACUSE GOP COMMITTEE CHAIR KEVIN RYAN, AND SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR GRANT REEHER.

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AND FOR MORE POLITICAL COVEARGE, INCLUDING MANY MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE INTERSECTION OF FEDERAL POLICIES AND STATE GOVERNMENT, YOU CAN FIND ME WITH MY DAY JOB AT CAPITOL PRESSROOM.ORG, OR WHERVER YOU DOWNLOAD PODCASTS.

ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE TEAM AT WCNY - I'M DAVID LOMBARDO - THANKS FOR WATCHING.